Qantas baggage handlers

[TheInsider]

I'm not judging their age, or even attributing any damaged baggage to them ... they just look like the next rung below KFC employees.

And yet still millions of people shop at KFC daily. If those staff didn't work there, then who would be able to eat KFC?
What do they look like exactly?

 

[servicerequired]

And yet still millions of people shop at KFC daily. If those staff didn't work there, then who would be able to eat KFC?
What do they look like exactly?

They're just drongos - with comparison to the previous QF employed team.

It may have been an excellent financial decision to engage Swissport further across the group, but the reputational damage caused to QF from the ineptness of these people ... mate.

It wasn't all just 'reawakening' the airline.

... and may I be more specific ... Swissport - Melbourne - QF Domestic.

Horrible.

 

[justinbrett]

They're just drongos - with comparison to the previous QF employed team.

It may have been an excellent financial decision to engage Swissport further across the group, but the reputational damage caused to QF from the ineptness of these people ... mate.

It wasn't all just 'reawakening' the airline.

... and may I be more specific ... Swissport - Melbourne - QF Domestic.

Horrible.

I'm sure there were drongos in the QF team as well, you're being very selective there.

Swissport handled NTL* (as well as many other ports) well before this contract change. Didn't see any media beat ups about those teams. I lived in NTL for the last 12 years (only just moved to OOL a few months ago) and never once had a baggage issue, and never saw bags being mishandled.

I'd love to know how many on the QF Swissport contract are ex QF employees. I'm guessing quite a lot.

*Yes I know Swissport bought out Aerocare in 2017. It's essentially the same company.

 

[lovestotravel]

Have you seen most of the Swissport ground crew on the QF side of the fence !!

I don't like to judge by appearances, but its pretty obvious the level that they've employed.

What do you expect when you pay $21 per hour and provide short shifts of 3 hours. Working in all weather conditions and moving baggage up to 32kgs and having little/no downtime.

You can get $30+ per hour doing pretty much anything else as a 21 year old +

Swissport and most of these outsourced baggage handling companies are a disgrace

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

What do you expect when you pay $21 per hour and provide short shifts of 3 hours. Working in all weather conditions and moving baggage up to 32kgs and having little/no downtime.

You can get $30+ per hour doing pretty much anything else as a 21 year old +

Swissport and most of these outsourced baggage handling companies are a disgrace

Can someone actually confirm what award they are paid under? It’s very hard to find an award that pays min wage.
Don’t forget all the multitude of allowances on top on the hourly rate.

 

[Quickstatus]

I don't like to judge by appearances

they just look like the next rung below KFC employees.

Hmmm.
Just remind me again how appearances matter in the workplace?

Can someone actually confirm what award they are paid under?

Possibly
Airline operations ground staff enterprise award - Swissport

From page 27:

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Maybe there is no data to support this but it seems since the outsourcing of baggage handling that carousel wait times have blown out. Perhaps a reduction in the number of dedicated QF baggage crews? Dunno, but we seem to wait a lot longer, with only one flight at a time being unloaded and bags appearing.

 

[RooFlyer]

Maybe there is no data to support this but it seems since the outsourcing of baggage handling that carousel wait times have blown out. Perhaps a reduction in the number of dedicated QF baggage crews? Dunno, but we seem to wait a lot longer, with only one flight at a time being unloaded and bags appearing.

Ugh. Travelling with a checked bag for the second time in ages today ( a dozen Pinot noir for the Olive Tree dinner tonight - a selection for @Cruiser Elite , @penegal and the others to enjoy).

 

[dylarr]

Maybe there is no data to support this but it seems since the outsourcing of baggage handling that carousel wait times have blown out. Perhaps a reduction in the number of dedicated QF baggage crews? Dunno, but we seem to wait a lot longer, with only one flight at a time being unloaded and bags appearing.

I’ve absolutely noticed this too. Especially at SYD. Most of my recent flights have taken 20 - 30 mins for bags to appear. It used to be the case that quite often the bags would beat me or would start coming out very shortly after arriving at the carousel. It’s very annoying because it’s becoming a very regular occurrence.

 

[Daver6]

I’ve absolutely noticed this too. Especially at SYD. Most of my recent flights have taken 20 - 30 mins for bags to appear. It used to be the case that quite often the bags would beat me or would start coming out very shortly after arriving at the carousel. It’s very annoying because it’s becoming a very regular occurrence.

PER is the absolute worst. If the bags start coming out in less than 30 minutes you're doing well.

AS has this https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/baggage/baggage-claim/20-minute-guarantee Would be a nice little points earner on QF since they're hopeless

Our 20 minute baggage guarantee​

We know that instead of waiting at baggage claim you'd rather be out enjoying your destination, or settling in back at home. That's why we are committed to getting you on your way faster, and we've been making that commitment for years.
Since 2010 we have put a guarantee behind our baggage delivery. If your bags are not at baggage claim within 20 minutes of your plane’s arrival at the gate, we’ll offer you a $25 discount code for use on a future Alaska Airlines flight, or 2,500 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™ bonus miles.
In the rare instance that we don't meet our 20 minute guarantee, just get ahold of us at the baggage office within 2 hours of your flight's arrival for your discount code or miles. You can simply speak with one of our customer service agents at the airport.

 

[jrfsp]

Hmmm.
Just remind me again how appearances matter in the workplace?



Possibly
Airline operations ground staff enterprise award - Swissport

From page 27:

View attachment 316675

The issue isnt the hourly rate but the contracts they are hired under.

Many of these workers are hired on a casual basis some with 0 hour contracts. No longer permanent employees - of course they dont care.

 

[Quickstatus]

Many of these workers are hired on a casual basis

The hourly rate casual table is next down from the permanent employment table in the link

It is only slightly higher and still pays peanuts.
I suspect there is a mix of casual and permanent part time

 

[RooFlyer]

15 mins for bags off QF. 717 craft after walking off the plane iat MEL. Not bad.

 

[justinbrett]

Maybe there is no data to support this but it seems since the outsourcing of baggage handling that carousel wait times have blown out. Perhaps a reduction in the number of dedicated QF baggage crews? Dunno, but we seem to wait a lot longer, with only one flight at a time being unloaded and bags appearing.

I don't know about that. I remember it being pretty bad under QF too.

Search the many threads about priority baggage not working over the last 20 years or so.

 

[Quickstatus]

bags off

And the Pinot?

 

[stm1sydney]

What do you expect when you pay $21 per hour and provide short shifts of 3 hours. Working in all weather conditions and moving baggage up to 32kgs and having little/no downtime.

You can get $30+ per hour doing pretty much anything else as a 21 year old +

Swissport and most of these outsourced baggage handling companies are a disgrace

If the pay and conditions are so bad, you would think they would very quickly get a job elsewhere (unemployment rate is 3.5%). As they are not doing this, that must mean they are unemployable elsewhere. So @servicerequired maybe has a point.

 

[jrfsp]

If the pay and conditions are so bad, you would think they would very quickly get a job elsewhere (unemployment rate is 3.5%). As they are not doing this, that must mean they are unemployable elsewhere. So @servicerequired maybe has a point.

They are frequently not turning up for work - this is a huge issue at MEL. Staff absenteeism is off the charts, people are frequently waiting up to 3 hours for bags (INTL).

 

[TheInsider]

They are frequently not turning up for work - this is a huge issue at MEL. Staff absenteeism is off the charts, people are frequently waiting up to 3 hours for bags (INTL).

This is DNATA at MEL international, who actually handle the majority of the airlines there. Only going to get worse over the short term with all the Chinese airlines starting up again (which DNATA has all the contracts for in MEL). But by saying that, their performance for QF in MEL is actually very good at the moment.
QR - Menzies
SQ/NZ - Swissport

 

[Quickstatus]

unemployable

Yes. Full employment is deemed to occur when unemployment is 5% or less.
There are people who are unfortunately unemployable.

However, it doesn’t have anything to do with appearance.
But if you offer minimum wages, you self select the type that are likely to apply especially when the workforce is casualised.
A permanent full time workforce will also self select out the ones who are not capable.

Not only that some of the permanent ground agents at QF had generational connections to the company

 

[servicerequired]

If the pay and conditions are so bad, you would think they would very quickly get a job elsewhere (unemployment rate is 3.5%). As they are not doing this, that must mean they are unemployable elsewhere. So @servicerequired maybe has a point.

BINGO