Qantas to outsource ground handling across Australia

[Must...Fly!]

Yeah, good luck with that and the Qantas corporate culture. They will be given a raise instead.

Sadly, that's my point.

 

[jase05]

Worker's won’t be reinstated, the penalties and compensation will be nowhere near what QF will save so although they would be disappointed at the result I don’t think there will be any changes

 

[RooFlyer]

Qantas is off to the High Court.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Qantas is off to the High Court.

As predictable as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west

hopefully they just burn more dollars on legal fees

 

[kelvedon]

As predictable as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west

hopefully they just burn more dollars on legal fees

They have to, otherwise Alan Joyce and Andrew David have a lot of egg on their face.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

The downside is that those former staff affected. either now on the dole or the new business who took over, was it Menzies, can't be reemployed by QF.
Edit: ah, its Swissport.
Yes, QF got fined, but in the end, they got what they wanted, ie to get rid of inhouse baggage handlers, so they (QF) will pay the new company very minimum costs.
QF will also not be liable for annual leave, compo, sick leave, long service leave, personal leave, Army Reserve leave, compassionate leave, super...
They will just have to pay the new company an agreed annual fee.
So the Insider above's view, is spot on.
Heh, unless those staff who outsourced it, in the end, are the next to get "outsourced".

 

[dylarr]

There's an article in The Guardian today speaking to a Swissport baggage handler about the current problems for anyone interested:

Qantas: outsourced baggage handler says one in 10 bags not making flights at Sydney domestic terminal

Exclusive: Worker raises concerns about chronic staff shortage, poor pay and unmanageable workload as domestic travel soars

www.theguardian.com

 

[NamarrgonFlyer]

There's an article in The Guardian today speaking to a Swissport baggage handler about the current problems for anyone interested:

Qantas: outsourced baggage handler says one in 10 bags not making flights at Sydney domestic terminal

Exclusive: Worker raises concerns about chronic staff shortage, poor pay and unmanageable workload as domestic travel soars

www.theguardian.com

Big yikes. The outsourced have had to outsource!

 

[jb747]

How to completely lose control of your work force.

 

[RooFlyer]

The guy nailed it are end of the article

“I would tell everyone, don’t check in bags when you fly with Qantas right now, or even better if you can avoid it, don’t fly Qantas at all,” the worker said.

 

[Lynda2475]

don’t check in bags when you fly with Qantas right now

Which is fine for a short domestic trip or 4 day weekend abroad but completely impractical for anyone heading overseas for a month needing clothes for a mix of climates.

 

[jpp42]

Which is fine for a short domestic trip or 4 day weekend abroad but completely impractical for anyone heading overseas for a month needing clothes for a mix of climates.

That's why the worker gave the next option - don't fly Qantas at all. Seems reasonable given the situation!

 

[RooFlyer]

Which is fine for a short domestic trip or 4 day weekend abroad but completely impractical for anyone heading overseas for a month needing clothes for a mix of climates.

Don't fly Qantas at all in those circumstances. Honestly, other airlines are better, and cheaper. That said, jessicatam only ever goes HLO overseas (I wouldn't!).

Edit: jjp42 beat me to it.

 

[kelvedon]

That's why the worker gave the next option - don't fly Qantas at all. Seems reasonable given the situation!

In addition to Qantas domestic, Swissport also do the baggage handling for Jetstar, Air NZ and Hawaiian

 

[Lynda2475]

That's why the worker gave the next option - don't fly Qantas at all. Seems reasonable given the situation!

However plenty of other airlines also having checked luggage issues atm all over the world - look at LHR and Europe.

I will make sure I have sufficient clothes carry-on that I can manage if my checked cases are delayed a day or so.

Honestly, other airlines are better, and cheaper

Not necessarily cheaper when flying on points, the "charges"on the ME partner airlines now higher than QF and I wont fly via the ME for ethical and personal safety reasons.

Ex Aus to Europe in OW that leaves BA (hard product worse IME, plus having their own luggage issues', charges not cheaper), Cathay which is very risky at the moment (solvency, stop-over restrictions, very few flights), Malaysian (safety concerns), JAL or Finnair which makes for a much longer flight (which would be ok if could actually stop over in Japan and Helsinki wasnt too close to Russia for comfort right now).

Hopefully AJ will go and new management will do what the banks and telcos are doing and that is bringing jobs back in house and back onshore.

 

[jase05]

Hopefully AJ will go and new management will do what the banks and telcos are doing and that is bringing jobs back in house and back onshore.

The feeling from all involved here is that he is staying for some time.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not necessarily cheaper when flying on points, the "charges"on the ME partner airlines now higher than QF and I wont fly via the ME for ethical and personal safety reasons.

Ex Aus to Europe in OW that leaves BA (hard product worse IME, plus having their own luggage issues', charges not cheaper), Cathay which is very risky at the moment (solvency, stop-over restrictions, very few flights), Malaysian (safety concerns), JAL or Finnair which makes for a much longer flight (which would be ok if could actually stop over in Japan and Helsinki wasnt too close to Russia for comfort right now).

Well, that does leave you at the tender mercy of Qantas then. Best of luck!!

 

[Ade]

The outsourced have had to outsource!

I received more than 6 calls from various agencies hiring baggage handlers for an airline. The agencies don't reveal that the airline is QF. but based on the job description it's clear that it's QF.

Although - what surprises me is, why is only QF having baggage handling issues (besides having outsourced the task to a different company) ? Is it safe to assume that those flying VA, Rex, Pelican, Link etc get their bags properly?

 

[dylarr]

I thought Qantas was using Swissport for ground handling?

Not for catering. They use dnata predominantly so expect catering to be impacted.

 

[Zanzara]

Not for catering. They use dnata predominantly so expect catering to be impacted.

Dnata (Dubai National Air Travel agency) bought QF catering some time ago. Ironic though if outsourcing to avoid industrial action by staff happens via a contractor anyway? QF have to use Dnata catering for 10 years as part of the sale agreement. Wonder what contingency arrangements airlines will have if the threatened industrial action strike, particularly to baggage handling, goes ahead.