Time for Qantas Finally to Dump Neil Perry? Rockpool Engaged in Massive Wage Theft (alleged)

[RooFlyer]

I have always interpreted "Neil Perry" as a brand (like Rockpool), not really a person, from a Marketing perspective. Sure, there is a person named that who had a hand in creating that brand at the start, but that doesn't mean that everything that comes out of it now, actually has that person's involvement. I think that's an important distinction (brand vs person) and something that should always be thought about for "celebrity" endorsements.

I agree, but think about how Qantas uses his brand. He's a well known restaurateur and chef. They show him in a kitchen setting, talking about Qantas meals. They describe their meals as 'Neil Perry inspired'. The message that is being conveyed is obvious and its not that 'Qantas is clever enough to use Neil Perry's brand'.

 

[OATEK]

I agree, but think about how Qantas uses his brand. He's a well known restaurateur and chef. They show him in a kitchen setting, talking about Qantas meals. They describe their meals as 'Neil Perry inspired'. The message that is being conveyed is obvious and its not that 'Qantas is clever enough to use Neil Perry's brand'.

During the recent 789 "test" flight I am sure I saw a dude dressed in a white Rockpool branded coat fiddling wirth the food.

 

[levelnine]

During the recent 789 "test" flight I am sure I saw a dude dressed in a white Rockpool branded coat fiddling wirth the food.

Absolutely correct. It is clear that Qantas are deeply embedded with the Rockpool group, not just NP.

 

[kevrosmith]

I don't mind the qantas domestic economy salad meal option. The hot option is usually like good quality dog food scooped into a box. But the salads are usually ok.

Not sure if those are neil perry salads...

I think the context when people are making disparaging comments about the NP "salad" is the small side-salad bowl of a couple salad leaves that generally accompany international (and perhaps trans-continental) flights. It's fairly pitiful.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I have always interpreted "Neil Perry" as a brand (like Rockpool), not really a person, from a Marketing perspective. Sure, there is a person named that who had a hand in creating that brand at the start, but that doesn't mean that everything that comes out of it now, actually has that person's involvement. I think that's an important distinction (brand vs person) and something that should always be thought about for "celebrity" endorsements.

I don't think this is valid when it comes to a chef as distinct from say an actor.
If Cate or Leo endorse a meal, or a perfume, no one thinks they had a hand in creating it.
But when a chef endorses a whole line of cuisine in this manner, that is most definitely the inference.

 

[Tallfont]

View attachment 194115

Absolutely correct. It is clear that Qantas are deeply embedded with the Rockpool group, not just NP.

Here you are sir, here is your Neil Perry inspired baked beans...............

 

[Hvr]

Here you are sir, here is your Neil Perry inspired baked beans...............

Could lead to some nasty blow back.

 

[kpc]

Fact: NP has no idea how to cook Asian food or even fusion food with an Asian flavour! Qf should save all the money they are paying him and just hire a no name chef and use the savings to improve the quality and quantity of the food they serve onboard esp. in the premium cabins!

 

[jakeseven7]

While that is all well and good, it ignores the fact that Qantas is closely connected with the entire Rockpool Group, not just NP, as I pointed out earlier. Qantas' website is littered with references to their 'Rockpool sommeliers' and 'Rockpool recipes' in their lounges and on board. Thus, if Rockpool is engaged in illegal and immoral practices, Qantas should dump them immediately.

Hi Pleb Status

Don’t disagree with illegal, and every contract written ever has severance clauses linked to illegal acts to enable a speedy exit. Nothing of course is proven yet so how could they execute such a clause yet.... Why don’t we see what happens first before hyperventilating about a ‘dumping’.

So cool with illegal, but immoral? Who will adjudicate that?

By some people’s ‘immoral’ filter that could result in VA dumping codeshares with EY and SQ for example given their links to respective governments that have murky approaches to human rights. It could result in QF dumping EK by another moral yardstick.

 

[levelnine]

So cool with illegal, but immoral? Who will adjudicate that?

You don't think stealing from someone is immoral? Wow ...

 

[OATEK]

You don't think stealing from someone is immoral? Wow ...

You have conflated the two. Stealing is illegal, and hopefully if NP has been involved in stealing from Rockpool staff that will come out. But if he is not implicated in wage theft, will his continued involvement, whether significant or tangental, with Rockpool lead to people saying that his morality is in doubt, just as the morality of QFs involvement has already been raised in this thread.

 

[jakeseven7]

You don't think stealing from someone is immoral? Wow ...

Calm down, I didn’t post anything close to that... Wow...

So will you be championing that VA stop code sharing with EY and QF with EK respectively as well on grounds of immorality?

 

[levelnine]

You have conflated the two. Stealing is illegal, and hopefully if NP has been involved in stealing from Rockpool staff that will come out. But if he is not implicated in wage theft, will his continued involvement, whether significant or tangental, with Rockpool lead to people saying that his morality is in doubt, just as the morality of QFs involvement has already been raised in this thread.

You've completely missed the argument.

Qantas is in close partnership with Rockpool, not just NP. Have a look at how many times Rockpool is mentioned on the following page: International inflight dining | Qantas AU

If Rockpool has engaged in wage theft, that is an immoral as well as illegal act.

So will you be championing that VA stop code sharing with EY and QF with EK respectively as well on grounds of immorality?

Have EY and EK engaged in theft from their employees? We're talking about theft.

 

[drron]

EK certainly is engaged in Immorality.Just the way they treat their FAs.One who is a good friend of a niece was sick on the day of her interview and had lost weight.She got the job but a condition of the job was that there could not be more than 1-2 kg change in her weight from the interview.If it was you were put off until back to the right weight.However if you were put off or had a sick day you received no pay or allowances.
So levelnine do you think that that is immoral.If so I presume you will be asking QF to terminate it's association with EK.

 

[OATEK]

Not sure who has missed the point, but let's leave it where it is rather than try to argue morality and start a divergent discussion. Rockpool, and NP by association at least, are alleged to have been involved in wage theft. This should be more than enough for QF to break the relationship.

You've completely missed the argument.

Qantas is in close partnership with Rockpool, not just NP. Have a look at how many times Rockpool is mentioned on the following page: International inflight dining | Qantas AU

If Rockpool has engaged in wage theft, that is an immoral as well as illegal act.



Have EY and EK engaged in theft from their employees? We're talking about theft.

 

[amaroo]

Qantas knows a thing or two about breaking the law, having pleaded guilty in 2007 for a 6 year freight pricing fix along with BA and KE.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

So will you be championing that VA stop code sharing with EY and QF with EK respectively as well on grounds of immorality?

This is a fair point.
However EK and EY are - as far as I am aware - abiding by the laws of the UAE.
Those laws are incredibly harsh and unfair, particularly in the area of industrial, labour and employment law.
Unions are banned, employees have no rights, and are essentially subject to indentured wage slavery for 2 year contracts.
And there is no rule of law - the law is a tool to achieve outcomes, it is applied inconsistently.
So some expats enjoy very generous working conditions and never encounter the tough laws - until they have a dispute with an Emirati.
A dispute they simply cannot and will not win.
But this is a huge cultural problem not simply a problem with EK or EY themselves.
It is certainly discouraging me from transiting through either DXB or AUH and one of the reasons I prefer to fly CX via HKG or QF via SIN.
But I think this can be distinguished from the case of Rockpool which has been breaking Australian law.

 

[Archphoto]

Can't say I've ever really been impressed by NP offerings anyway, so cutting the cord with him wouldn't be a great loss to my tastebuds. On a similar note, I'm tired of the same dull beer offering - James B****y Squire - for the past 15+ years.

I get they get great "deals" through massive orders, but seriously how's about you give your passengers a break? I remember Coopers had a brilliant ad one year in the Qantas Magazine, saying they were serving from the back of the plane, and yes, this idiot actually turned around to have a look, then realised I'd been had.

 

[DC3]

... the NP "salad" is the small side-salad bowl of a couple salad leaves that generally accompany international (and perhaps trans-continental) flights. It's fairly pitiful.

Wouldn’t that be a “garnish”?

 

[DC3]

... If Rockpool has engaged in wage theft, that is an immoral as well as illegal act ..

Isn’t it an allegation that is yet to be proven?