TWU says VA stands down 800+ [VA says under 200] ground staff for three weeks

[Melburnian1]

The Federal Government was arguably very generous with JobKeeper. It kept many in work, and allowed businesses to stay afloat.

With its cessation (although IIRC the Newstart allowance for the unemployed has risen above what it used to be, which had to happen as it was too low), so-called 'zombie companies' will in time go into administration.

Separately, VA 2.0 has stood down 800+ ground staff for three weeks without pay, as this excerpt from 'The Australian' online of half an hour ago indicates (elsewhere in the article it states '804' were stood down but at the end says 'it is unclear how many...' This is contradictory).



'Hundreds of Virgin Australia ground crew have been stood down without pay for at least three weeks, after the airline said the pandemic left the industry with virtually no work...


...Staff could be required to work ... and have been told to “check” rosters “in accordance with normal procedure”.'

 

[Bell21]

Feel for the VA staff - such a tumultuous time. Well, I'm still sticking with VA (I'm probably one of their ideal demographics) and travelling with a number of people over the next few days SYD-MEL return, so let's hope, nothing affects that route!

 

[Bagpuss]

... Apparently not totally 801.

Would also a response to the Birsbane lockdown.

Virgin stands down ground crew days after JobKeeper ends

Virgin has vehemently rejected the Transport Workers’ Union claims it has stood down all of its ground crew, saying less than 200 staff have had their hours reduced as the dispute heads to the Fair Work Commission.

www.news.com.au

 

[jakeseven7]

Feel sorry for VA2 workers. What an awful 12 months for them, from collapse onwards and ongoing job insecurity, what a nightmare for them.

 

[Bagpuss]

Feel sorry for VA2 workers. What an awful 12 months for them, from collapse onwards and ongoing job insecurity, what a nightmare for them.

Unfortunately, this is far from unique to Virgin Australia. Same for many companies.

 

[Melburnian1]

Unfortunately, this is far from unique to Virgin Australia. Same for many companies.

Casual workers in subsectors like pubs and cafes may well be far worse off than many in the aviation subsector.

 

[jakeseven7]

Casual workers in subsectors like pubs and cafes may well be far worse off than many in the aviation subsector.

Yes agree.

It was compounded by the fact that the VA1 business was in terrible shape leading into the pandemic anyway of course.

 

[Bagpuss]

Yes agree.

It was compounded by the fact that the VA1 business was in terrible shape leading into the pandemic anyway of course.

True. But is the case for many companies.

Companies can have headline profits in which they are valuing their assets highly, though can be chewing through cash or raising funds. Companies forward financial budgeting (which includes income) is done on assumptions

Not taking anything away from the situation.

 

[Melburnian1]

Yes agree.

It was compounded by the fact that the VA1 business was in terrible shape leading into the pandemic anyway of course.

Of course, I don't disagree that some in the aviation subsector suffered - they're not all highly paid pilots/first officers of major airlines - but unfortunately some people I've spoken with, typically in their 20s with a great work ethic and ability to deal with all types in pubs and cafes, have lost so much income and the good feeling about regularly coming to work and giving patrons some enjoyment in what can be mundane lives. So the latter are among the worst off, and they'll never recover those lost shifts. Victorian pubs' staff were especially hit hard.

Interesting that the VA 2.0 and TWU versions of what's occurring are a million kilometres from each other. Wonder where the truth lies, bagpuss?

 

[Bagpuss]

Interesting that the VA 2.0 and TWU versions of what's occurring are a million kilometres from each other. Wonder where the truth lies, bagpuss?

There's truth, lies and reality.

I expect both think they are saying the truth with the other lying. Hence what will pan out is the reality.

 

[jakeseven7]

The TWU certainly doesn't have any love for Bain/VA2 thats for sure..... gosh remember the collapse / administration process....

 

[Bagpuss]

The TWU certainly doesn't have any love for Bain/VA2 thats for sure..... gosh remember the collapse / administration process....

It's the good old Bain attack.

Whilst forgetting that ASX companies and some private companies have Shareholders.
Shareholder's invest to sale and make a profit at a later stage.
... It's all the same but different.

Bain themselves don't seem to be too involved at a low level. Hence it's not "Virgin Australia a Bain Capital Private Equity owned company"

(When people say Bain, it's really "Bain Capital Private Equity" nor is it "Bain Capital")
Also nor is it the only avaiation company they are invested in.

Portfolio

Our Portfolio

www.baincapitalprivateequity.com

Though I'm totally off topic to a degree.

 

[jakeseven7]

Lots of coverage now with this story. WIll probably make TV tonight... Def in Brissy, after all the QLD Gov shelled out a tonne of money to try and rescue VA2 and through their own mess up have caused this issue as well...

Virgin pit crew stood down for three weeks

The Transport Workers’ Union has blamed the move by the country’s second-biggest airline on the end of the JobKeeper wage subsidy last week.

www.afr.com

 

[Carrots]

To be fair, QF group will also be doing the same, except they'll now be advising their new ground crew contractors to provide fewer services, rather than telling their employees not to rock up.

A truly horrid time to be financially involved/dependent within the travel/tourism/hospitality sectors.

 

[Melburnian1]

Feel for the VA staff - such a tumultuous time. Well, I'm still sticking with VA (I'm probably one of their ideal demographics) and travelling with a number of people over the next few days SYD-MEL return, so let's hope, nothing affects that route!

Pardon me for briefly going OT, but what do you assert is the VA 'ideal demographic'?

Trendy individuals aged under 35? The sort who'd travel from Melbourne or Sydney to Byron Bay for a hen's/bucks' weekend, or a concert?

 

[jakeseven7]

Pardon me for briefly going OT, but what do you assert is the VA 'ideal demographic'?

Trendy individuals aged under 35? The sort who'd travel from Melbourne or Sydney to Byron Bay for a hen's/bucks' weekend, or a concert?

Why trendy? lol

 

[Melburnian1]

There's truth, lies and reality.

I expect both think they are saying the truth with the other lying. Hence what will pan out is the reality.

That's an 'answer' worthy of Sir Humphrey.

What do you expect 'reality' to become? 170 stood down? 200? 800 plus? Or no one?

Post automatically merged: Apr 1, 2021

Why trendy? lol

To use that word possibly imported from the USA, 'hipsters' entered my mind.

 

[jakeseven7]

That's an 'answer' worthy of Sir Humphrey.

What do you expect 'reality' to become? 170 stood down? 200? 800 plus? Or no one?

Post automatically merged: Apr 1, 2021

To use that word possibly imported from the USA, 'hipsters' entered my mind.

Hipsters are usually higher disposable income, not really VA2’s target

 

[Saab34]

I’m amazed they didn’t go down the QF group route and sub contract the entire ground function .

 

[Must...Fly!]

I’m amazed they didn’t go down the QF group route and sub contract the entire ground function .

Probably nothing stopping them doing that down the track. Given government was paying for a lot of the wages anyway with jobkeeper, perhaps they viewed it best to keep the status quo rather than invite more angst during the purchase and takeover process.