Delayed by industrial action - sign of things to come?

[openseat]

Yesterday I was travelling to ADL from MEL and everything was all set to go: door closed, airbridge withdrawn, crew buttoning everything down. But then a long delay before the captain comes on to tell us that we are taking on extra fuel so that the plane can go onto SYD after ADL because of industrial action - the delay should only be 10mins. Then after about 20mins he tells us that they need more fuel as the plane now needs to go on to PER after ADL. Then we wait another 20mins and the captain says that the TWU refused to push the plane back because they were preventing planes going to ADL because of the baggage handlers snap strike there.
All in all we spent over an hour on the plane before being unloaded and given vouchers. By the time I got back to the QP I noticed that three ADL flights gave no boarding times and from time to time an announcement was made that it would be 6:30 before we would hear anything. While I was grumbling to myself that they should have sent our plane off before faffing about with fuel loads, there was announcement that they secured 50 seats on the 6:30 Virgin flight to ADL, but we had to make it to the Ticket Sales counter.
Thankfully I made it before the rest and was able to fly Virgin. I'm not sure what happened to the rest, but the Qantas apron at ADL looked very quiet with only one domestic flight there (the SIN plane seemed to be being loaded at that time alright). The terminal inside, however, looked rather full at the QF end.
There were lots of comments about a new government and union action, but I think it might be gilding the lily a bit too much.

 

[Keith009]

I was getting into the taxi at Tulla yesterday when I heard an announcement in the QF terminal concerning pax of a flight from ADL - they were advised that there'd be no bags due to industrial action in ADL and that they'd all approach the baggage services desk.

I found the comments linking the new Labor government with increased industrial action ludricous just because of 1 incident - this could've happened before Labor got into power. Besides, there were pretty major industrial actions here in Victoria when the Libs were still in power (nurses, teachers), and ironically they were taken against the state Labor government, prompting a comment on radio "Labor vs labour."

 

[Reggie]

I found the comments linking the new Labor government with increased industrial action ludricous just because of 1 incident - this could've happened before Labor got into power.

"but it didn't"

After meeting you QF009, I feel that I can say this.

 

[oz_mark]

I flew from PER-MEL on Wednesday, we pretty much landed on time, but then sat on the tarmac for 20/25 minutes as there were no gates available for the plane to go to. Apparently was due to flights to ADL being held in MEL.

 

[josko]

Probably a bit early to link the industrial action to the new labour government but something interesting happened in my industry yesterday (the construction industry- large commercial that is).

We had our first "concrete pour" ban on the new melbourne ferris wheel project and this hasn't happened in 11 years!

Interestingly, it followed the tried and true union method of waiting until the trucks turned up before banning the pour.....causing maximum caos.

Hmmmmm....now I wonder????:?:

 

[NM]

Interestingly, it followed the tried and true union method of waiting until the trucks turned up before banning the pour.....causing maximum caos.

Hmmmmm....now I wonder????:?:

Your post implies the ban was imposed by the unions. What was the justification given by the unions for this action?

 

[openseat]

Just an update on this misadventure.

I noticed that my AAdvantage account has the QF flight credited!

I also put a claim in with DJ about the Virgin flight which I didn't expect to pass through, and find that I have an increase of 1165 velocity points.

 

[Skoogle]

Qantas staff threaten Christmas walkout

Qantas staff threaten Christmas walkout

Qantas staff at Sydney Airport have threatened to walk out in the middle of the busy holiday season over a workplace safety dispute.

 

[GCD123]

The problems go deeper than just the baggage handlers. I was speaking to a customer service agent at Sydney International.
They are understaffed by 150; Qantas has just introduced a new computer generated tasking system 'I-Roster' ; and there is no one at the terminal to reallocate jobs to allow for the inevitable delays/changes etc.
The result is that flights are left waiting for 15-20 min for someone to open the door. Several flights are taking 4-5 hours to check-in - and leaving late with the resulting connection problems and fines for missing their allocated slots. Staff have been passing-out due to the strain. This is not just Qantas flights either - as QF services most other carriers into Sydney.
All this, plus there is no actual person to call - and the computer blindly keeps allocating jobs. For example, my contact was due to be at a new task 1 hour before the original task was scheduled to be completed. Jeff Dixon was not pleased when his flight was left on the tarmac last week - waiting for someone to drive the airbridge.

The only advice is to get there early (at least 3 hours) and be prepared for some stress during this busy period.

Just to top things off, Qantas have offered staff a 3% wage increase on the same day they announced a rise in projected profit from 30% to 40%.

Be prepared for some more industrial action.

 

[International Lady]

I was also speaking to a friend who works for the airline and I can certainly understand the need for industrial action over xmas - it might be the only way QF management will listen.

Yr right, Qantas' arrogant management has just spent $45m+ on a computerised job allocating system which clearly IS NOT working - big question - why bring in this whole new system just before xmas, THE busiest time of the year? My flight was delayed on arrival because there were no gate staff - well the computer didn't allocate anyone to meet my plane!

They have brought in the big guns, consultants who have never worked at an airport a day in their lives! Not one airline employee was ever asked to give comment, suggestions, input etc etc in how to better manage things - even though there are some with 30yrs experience working in that environment.

Instead of getting 6 weeks advance notice, my friend just found out this week what his schedule would be for xmas. How can people who have families and lives outside of work make any sort of plans?

Staff are leaving left right and centre and NEVER being replaced! Passengers are increasingly disgruntled and are taking this out on anyone in QF uniform! There are very angry ramp staff, baggage handlers, pilots, flight attendants, engineers and ground staff. When you have disgruntled employees, how can you have happy passengers?!

How can you give good customer service without any staff. Passenger numbers have increased by the thousands, every year for the last 5 yrs yet staff numbers have decreased.

QF is looking to cut costs in anyway possible EXCEPT executive salaries and bonuses! 40% profit increase in 12 months is the latest prediction for 07/08.

Engineering cuts and more offshore work is the greatest concern of all! How can QF maintain high Australian standards when the work is carried out overseas? Are we going to get more Singaporean prisoners to clean aircraft?

Staff at the airport haven't had a payrise in 5 years and cannot even get 3% without trade offs. GD got 27% last year alone and similar amount the year before.

QF really show lack of care to it's passengers and employees. If it wasn't for the passionate staff who are proud to be working for an airline with a rich history such as Qantas' (and management abuses this dedication), QF would be nowhere today.

Very dissapointed with the running of this magnificent airline! Shame GD, shame! And to think they even wanted to sell it off for a bargain price to foreign investors. Very sad.

 

[Keith009]

Jeff Dixon was not pleased when his flight was left on the tarmac last week - waiting for someone to drive the airbridge.

And you'd be forgiven for thinking that incident might be enough to get management to listen...

 

[Evan]

International Lady,
I can't comment on QF situation to much but you know just about every company i can think of including my own is in a similar situation.
Thats just whats happening, but having said that i think some employee's of QF meaning front line staff are very well paid and with some nice advantages.
Strike to me is the wrong idea, if you really don't like it then resign, but to me a strike is bad for the company, bad for the employee, bad for the customers, nobody wins.
E

 

[Commuter]

I noticed that a lot of MEL flights were delayed today - was this in some ways related to this industrial action at ADL?

 

[littl_flier]

International Lady,
I can't comment on QF situation to much but you know just about every company i can think of including my own is in a similar situation.
Thats just whats happening, but having said that i think some employee's of QF meaning front line staff are very well paid and with some nice advantages.

I couldn't agree more Evan. QF's short haul CSM's are extremely well paid and I'm informed from a QF insider that one of their 19 year old CASUAL FA's will this year take home close to $75k plus super (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that). The staff on board are paid hansomly compared to their US and UK counterparts. I can't speak the same for the baggage handlers/check in staff but as Evan points out, the entire labour market is short of staff at the moment. In accounting, we're struggling to get decent skills but anyone of us can move into another job at the snap of a fingers. Mining is the same.

As far as QF not replacing staff go, I think that is a problem that needs to be addressed. Look at BNE checkin at the moment. And this IT system does need to be sorted out.

 

[Reggie]

the entire labour market is short of staff at the moment.

Here in WA, every shop, restaraunt and fast food outlet has a sign in the window, saying staff wanted. Most businesses are having to pay extra money to get people. One mining company I deal with, offers their staff a several thousand dollar bonus for recommending persons to work for the company.

 

[International Lady]

I couldn't agree more Evan. QF's short haul CSM's are extremely well paid and I'm informed from a QF insider that one of their 19 year old CASUAL FA's will this year take home close to $75k plus super (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that). The staff on board are paid hansomly compared to their US and UK counterparts.

Must have done an obscene amount of overtime to get that! But that's apparently what they're offering - heaps of overtime instead of replacing staff. Most staff on board are now 'temps' from an agency. Paid a lot less than the older staff. Our airlines are heading straight down the US path - no customer service, no care attitude, take it or shove it approach, bare minimums, offshort maintenance - and if you travel through the US, you'll know what that feels like!

I sincerely hope QF doesn't take it that far!

 

[oz_mark]

I noticed that a lot of MEL flights were delayed today - was this in some ways related to this industrial action at ADL?

I was in MEL last night, and there were lots of announcements about weather in Sydney (and asking people travelling without luggage to move to earlier flights). Maybe there were some flow on effects?

 

[littl_flier]

Our airlines are heading straight down the US path - no customer service, no care attitude, take it or shove it approach, bare minimums, offshort maintenance - and if you travel through the US, you'll know what that feels like!

I do understand your feelings but a good crew can make a world of difference. QF seems to be a little bit hit and miss but it's a bit of a generalisation to say they have a no care attitude. I've had a couple of crews who would bend over backwards to help me, and I'm in whY.

 

[Commuter]

I had really excellent crew on QF - and to be honest, I had a higher rate of 'not so good' (still not particularly bad) older crew than younger crew, to be honest.

 

[Commuter]

I was in MEL last night, and there were lots of announcements about weather in Sydney (and asking people travelling without luggage to move to earlier flights). Maybe there were some flow on effects?

Oh. That sort of makes sense - although it didn't seem like much of a weather in Sydney (then again I probably arrived after it had passed).