JetStar Pilots' Strike

[eastwest101]

Unfortunatley, aeroplanes are aeroplanes. You might be able to sell muffins on one of them, but the required training for the highly skilled technical staff doesn't change.

So who is flying this Sat and which airline? The media I have seen seems to be around 10-15% of JQ flights might be affected with some additional or upgauged QF services planned to cover the industrial action.

Haven't seen any mentions of JQ pax being pro actively rebooked or retimed yet but I guess we will see on the weekend.

 

[kyle]

So who is flying this Sat and which airline? The media I have seen seems to be around 10-15% of JQ flights might be affected with some additional or upgauged QF services planned to cover the industrial action.

Haven't seen any mentions of JQ pax being pro actively rebooked or retimed yet but I guess we will see on the weekend.

Friends flying on Sunday MEL-SYD have been rebooked on QF.

 

[AIRwin]

Full list of cancelled flights:

Travel Alerts | Jetstar

For information on issues which may affect your flight or travel plans please check out the latest travel alerts or chat to our friendly customer service staff.

www.jetstar.com

 

[Spongbob]

It is a bit odd that there has been no comment for 3 days about industrial action of Jetstar workers.

I wonder what this implies (1) about Jetstar generally and/or (2) the AFF Jetstar forum?

 

[Revenge]

There is a (kind of) update on the JQ website today:

UPDATE ON JETSTAR INDUSTRIAL ACTION

Industrial action triggered by wage and benefit claims of up to 15 per cent Jetstar cutting 10 per cent of domestic flights in January to avoid disrupting customers at short notice Financial impact estimated at approximately $20-25 million Jetstar continues to work through its contingency...

newsroom.jetstar.com

 

[eastwest101]

There is a (kind of) update on the JQ website today:

UPDATE ON JETSTAR INDUSTRIAL ACTION

Industrial action triggered by wage and benefit claims of up to 15 per cent Jetstar cutting 10 per cent of domestic flights in January to avoid disrupting customers at short notice Financial impact estimated at approximately $20-25 million Jetstar continues to work through its contingency...

newsroom.jetstar.com

And some bellicose sounding noises from Jetstar PR about removing 3 JQ B788's from service and selling them.

Either JQi are really starting to hurt and they are struggling in their markets (Oz to Japan, Bali and Hawaii would be my bet?) or more likely these B788's are due for an big expensive maintenance overhaul soon so time to send them back to QFi as some have previously speculated on?

 

[jb747]

And some bellicose sounding noises from Jetstar PR about removing 3 JQ B788's from service and selling them.

And that's the sort of 'negotiating' the entire QF group goes in for these days. Start with a big stick, and get a bigger one as soon as the opportunity arises. The days of real win-win are gone. The last QF pilots' EBA gave them very real (in the order of 30%) reductions. They liked that some much they've come back and would like it again. The pilots feel that they were duped last time, and aren't all that interested in a repeat.

Either JQi are really starting to hurt and they are struggling in their markets (Oz to Japan, Bali and Hawaii would be my bet?) or more likely these B788's are due for an big expensive maintenance overhaul soon so time to send them back to QFi as some have previously speculated on?

Well, Jetstar can't sell anything, as they're owned by QF. Of course they may well be transferred, but my bet is that that was already going to happen, as they're due for some expensive maintenance, and they'd rather that be dumped on QFi.

Basically (and this is the same with Sunrise), the 787s were probably already tagged to be moved, but it would be nice to be able to blame those filthy pilots, instead of the incompetent management.

 

[Revenge]

I don't like the tone of the press release generally.

On the travel alerts page of the JQ website they say:

You can find out more about the reasons behind the workers' industrial action HERE.

But when you follow the link you get this sassy press release which is just propaganda against the unions, which they didn't even bother to proof read properly.

 

[eastwest101]

I don't like the tone of the press release generally.

On the travel alerts page of the JQ website they say:


But when you follow the link you get this sassy press release which is just propaganda against the unions, which they didn't even bother to proof read properly.

They will have to issue a correction to that press release, there is at least one broad sweeping false statement in that release, and a journalist somewhere will only need to find one single JQ captain that's paid less than $300K a year to destroy the credibility of that press release. I notice that press release wasn't issued to the ASX, and is only for media and consumer use. I wonder why?

 

[Melburnian1]

They will have to issue a correction to that press release, there is at least one broad sweeping false statement in that release, and a journalist somewhere will only need to find one single JQ captain that's paid less than $300K a year to destroy the credibility of that press release. I notice that press release wasn't issued to the ASX, and is only for media and consumer use. I wonder why?

Re the latter, one reason may be that the amount claimed for the cost of the strikes is not 'material' as oer ASX listing rules.

 

[jb747]

The pay figures released by QF in the past have been decidedly rubbery. I was never within $100k of the figure that I was supposedly paid (back when he decided to lock everyone out). I guess that as long as one pilot gets paid X (even if he’s a management pilot), then that must be the average for all of them.

I’d hazard a guess that the Jetstar issues have a lot more to do with the way staff are treated than pay. If you’re going to be treated like s**t, then you may as well be paid properly for it. The lesson that seems to escape so many managements, is that if you treat your staff well, then you don’t have to have the highest pay levels...though you also cannot be seen you have your own nose in the trough. Treat your staff badly, whilst being fully immersed in the trough is worse than a bad look.

 

[jakeseven7]

And some bellicose sounding noises from Jetstar PR about removing 3 JQ B788's from service and selling them.

Either JQi are really starting to hurt and they are struggling in their markets (Oz to Japan, Bali and Hawaii would be my bet?) or more likely these B788's are due for an big expensive maintenance overhaul soon so time to send them back to QFi as some have previously speculated on?

The US route would be killing them due to the AUD returning to long term averages compared to parity party times.

Interestingly there has been no mention of a transfer to QFi - maybe the days of intra company swaps are over...

 

[jb747]

Interestingly there has been no mention of a transfer to QFi - maybe the days of intra company swaps are over...

Of course not. The lack of aircraft purchases is being held over the long haul pilots as both carrot and stick for their own EBA. The general feeling is that if the business case for Sunrise, etc, does not stand up without another huge give from the pilots, then the case simply does not stack up at all.

 

[SOPOOR]

I read someone that the union/pilots claimed that this action was NOT deliberately planned for the busiest time and that their intention wasnt to cause disturbance to customers,

what a load of bollocks

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

I read someone that the union/pilots claimed that this action was NOT deliberately planned for the busiest time and that their intention wasnt to cause disturbance to customers,

Alan? Is that you?

It seems pretty obvious that the intention of the industrial action is to cause difficulties for the employer, not its customers.

 

[jakeseven7]

Alan? Is that you?

It seems pretty obvious that the intention of the industrial action is to cause difficulties for the employer, not its customers.

Um that makes no sense. Of course they are using the busiest time of year to impact customers to impact their employer. It goes hand and hand. Maybe chicken and egg but they are definitely using customers!

 

[jb747]

Um that makes no sense. Of course they are using the busiest time of year to impact customers to impact their employer. It goes hand and hand. Maybe chicken and egg but they are definitely using customers!

So presumably you think they should time their action to coincide with quiet periods, then the airline would dearly love to cancel flights anyway.

The EBA has been going on forever. JQ management (aided and abetted by the mothership) have been stalling for all they are worth. I'm sure they could have resolved it if they had wanted to. Presumably we'll see lockout mark II at some point.

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

Um that makes no sense. Of course they are using the busiest time of year to impact customers to impact their employer. It goes hand and hand. Maybe chicken and egg but they are definitely using customers!

That makes no sense at all. Employees engaging in industrial action need customers on their side to place pressure on the employer to negotiate in good faith. The most effective industrial action will cost the employer dearly while not affecting customers.

Edit: I imagine the only way for the current JQ management team to secure their promotions to QF will be to demonstrate QF-grade IR tactics in this dispute.

 

[Melburnian1]

If jb747's prediction comes true - a very good chance - for JQ, being a largely leisure travellers' airline, any lockout might occur from midnight on a Monday night as Tuesday and Wednesday may well be quieter than Saturday and Sunday combined.

Because politicians do not as a rule fly on JQ, my hunch is there will be less pressure on QF to restore flights compared to the QF lockout.

While staff expenses are substantial, it is hard to believe management's implied claims about the airline turning lossmaking if some or all of the pilots' requests were incorporated in a revised agreement. TT has a far smaller domestic fleet than JQd so it is in no position to dominate LCC oerations domestically.

 

[jakeseven7]

So presumably you think they should time their action to coincide with quiet periods, then the airline would dearly love to cancel flights anyway.

I sure do because it would be a PR disaster for the unions causing chaos at a time for people to visit and spend time with families. Any empathy built up would be wiped out as the public would blame the staff.

Thankfully some smart cookie at the union has finally realised this and the unions that represent the baggage handlers and ground staff have back pedalled and matches the pilots commitment not to disrupt Xmas and NY travel. It would have all blown back on them.

For the record I 100% support the Jetstar staff in their campaign But they would have shot themselves in the foot striking over that period.