Melbourne Wednesday 8 March Refuelers' strike

[Melburnian1]

Sometimes proposed strikes are settled at the last minute, but apparently the Mark Rowsthorn (late of Asciano and Toll Holdings) -run Rivet Group (HQ in Camberwell, Melbourne) employees are striking for 24 hours on Wednesday 8 March 2023 from 0400 AEDT.

The dispute is re pay negotiations that have apparently been underway for a long time. Some employees are Transport Workers Union members.

Media suggests Rivet's main client is Qantas/ Qantaslink. (I'd never heard of this company).

'Herald Sun' claims Qantas is finding it difficult to source replacement refuellers (presumably as the other companies have contracts that keep them busy with other airlines).

In similar previous circumstances, airlines try to refuel elsewhere but this can bring challenges, with delays inevitable. They may compound during the day.

 

[Melburnian1]

'The Australian' states, among other points, that:

"...A Qantas spokeswoman said there had been no changes to flights out of Melbourne on Wednesday.


“Once we have more details from Rivet about the impact of the planned strike by their workers, we can put in place contingencies such as carrying additional fuel from other airports to minimise impacts to our customers,” said the spokeswoman..."

I ought have clarified above that this is only a possible strike at Melbourne Airport, not Avalon or any other Oz airport. So that's why domestic (and international) QF flights could divert, or load extra fuel at say SYD, ADL, BNE and so on.

I stress that like other proposed industrial action, this strike may be settled between now and 0400 hours on Wednesday. But watch media.

 

[MrMickeyg]

"...A Qantas spokeswoman said there had been no changes to flights out of Melbourne on Wednesday.

No QF flights out of MEL to SYD on sale for 8/3 (as at 6/3 10pm). Only Jetstar.

 

[justinbrett]

Media suggests Rivet's main client is Qantas/ Qantaslink. (I'd never heard of this company).

And most of the international airlines

 

[jase05]

And most of the international airlines

Exactly. The way the media have spun this they make it sound as if they are Qantas employees

 

[Melburnian1]

And most of the international airlines

Media said about 60 per cent of Rivet's business is with Qantas, so it's accurate to state QFi/QFd is the 'majority' user.

Strangely media is silent on Tuesday 7 March re the proposed strike, so goodness knows if it'll be called off at the proverbial five minutes to midnight. If it proceeds, it starts at 0400 AEDT and as noted above is only at MEL, not AVV or anywhere else in Oz.

MEL has extremely optimistically said on Twitter at about 1500 AEDT on Tuesday that it expects 'most flights to operate to schedule.' Spin!

I would doubt this will be true for QFd/QFI and as mentioned above by others, any other airlines using Rivet. VAd/VAi, Rex and Bonza don't appear to be clients so their only additional delays may be if the Rivet users' delays cause bunching (i.e. longer queues waiting for takeoff, or more holding patterns).

If domestic aircraft have to take on extra fuel elsewhere, that takes time, and there's only so many refuellers' trucks to service QFd elsewhere.

Similarly, should international flights ex MEL have to divert to SYD or ADL to take on fuel if they can't be attended to upon arrival earlier in Melbourne, that adds time and extra nautical miles to the journey and depending on turnaround times will also affect southeast bound flights from Asia due to depart on Wednesday 8's evening.

 

[defurax]

Interestingly, VH-OQL was ferried from SYD to MEL as QF6032 today. Wonder if QF plans to use it to operate QF35 or just as a standby aircraft in case many MEL-SYD flights are delayed.

 

[jb747]

If domestic aircraft have to take on extra fuel elsewhere, that takes time, and there's only so many refuellers' trucks to service QFd elsewhere.

It would make very little difference. The aircraft refuel at most stops, as carrying fuel for multiple sectors has a weight/cost/burn penalty. Landing weight limits would stop you loading up with many sectors, but a couple shouldn't be an issue.

Similarly, should international flights ex MEL have to divert to SYD or ADL to take on fuel if they can't be attended to upon arrival earlier in Melbourne, that adds time and extra nautical miles to the journey and depending on turnaround times will also affect southeast bound flights from Asia due to depart on Wednesday 8's evening.

International flights would be much more affected, as in most cases, they cannot possibly tanker enough fuel due to landing weight limits. The exception that comes to mind is the 380, which could tanker about 100 tonnes....about enough to get to Singapore.

 

[Scr77]

Interestingly, VH-OQL was ferried from SYD to MEL as QF6032 today. Wonder if QF plans to use it to operate QF35 or just as a standby aircraft in case many MEL-SYD flights are delayed.

7 TV news just reported that a A380 was flown into Melbourne full of fuel so it could be used as a tanker. I presume it can’t be full, but in any case, if the refuellers are on strike, how does that help?

 

[clifford]

Glad I'm flying through MEL on VA tomorrow.

 

[defurax]

7 TV news just reported that a A380 was flown into Melbourne full of fuel so it could be used as a tanker. I presume it can’t be full, but in any case, if the refuellers are on strike, how does that help?

A fuel mule : https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/q...nt-on-planned-industrial-action-in-melbourne/

 

[justinbrett]

Media said about 60 per cent of Rivet's business is with Qantas, so it's accurate to state QFi/QFd is the 'majority' user.

Strangely media is silent on Tuesday 7 March re the proposed strike, so goodness knows if it'll be called off at the proverbial five minutes to midnight. If it proceeds, it starts at 0400 AEDT and as noted above is only at MEL, not AVV or anywhere else in Oz.

MEL has extremely optimistically said on Twitter at about 1500 AEDT on Tuesday that it expects 'most flights to operate to schedule.' Spin!

I would doubt this will be true for QFd/QFI and as mentioned above by others, any other airlines using Rivet. VAd/VAi, Rex and Bonza don't appear to be clients so their only additional delays may be if the Rivet users' delays cause bunching (i.e. longer queues waiting for takeoff, or more holding patterns).

If domestic aircraft have to take on extra fuel elsewhere, that takes time, and there's only so many refuellers' trucks to service QFd elsewhere.

Similarly, should international flights ex MEL have to divert to SYD or ADL to take on fuel if they can't be attended to upon arrival earlier in Melbourne, that adds time and extra nautical miles to the journey and depending on turnaround times will also affect southeast bound flights from Asia due to depart on Wednesday 8's evening.

By what metric? 60% of fuel? 60% of movements? 60% of revenue?

As discussed above the impacts will mostly be on international and transcon domestic - which Qantas IS NOT the majority customer.

As much as you want Qantas to fail, as always, this is not a QF issue and they have many options - including getting fuel from another provider (confirmed in their latest media release)

7 TV news just reported that a A380 was flown into Melbourne full of fuel so it could be used as a tanker. I presume it can’t be full, but in any case, if the refuellers are on strike, how does that help?

I didn't think QF would do this, but I've seen the RAAF do it a lot - where they fly in an aircraft like a C130 and use its fuel to refuel smaller aircraft. Useful on places like NLK where fuel supplies can be disrupted. Though I would think if QF has the personnel to do this, surely they can operate the hydrants?

 

[clifford]

As much as you want Qantas to fail, as always,

This seems rather a strange thing to say. You must have noticed something I haven't.

 

[Melburnian1]

As much as you want Qantas to fail, as always, this is not a QF issue and they have many options - including getting fuel from another provider (confirmed in their latest media release)

I didn't say anything about 'wanting QF to fail.' As clifford said 'rather a strange thing to (assert).'

I merely highlighted what media were saying as a refuellers' strike is a major action that if it proceeds will cause delays and maybe cancellations.

Given usage of QFd and especially QFi seems higher as a percentage of AFFers than the general travelling public (residents and visitors), I was surprised no one else had picked up on it. Wasn't the last similar strike years ago?

But perhaps it'll be called off late tonight as 'the parties reach agreement'.

If it proceeds let's see whether there's late running tomorrow, and/or cancellations. Weather is predicted to be benign right around the nation.

 

[justinbrett]

I didn't say anything about 'wanting QF to fail.'

I merely highlighted what media were saying as a refuellers' strike is a major action that if it proceeds will cause delays and maybe cancellations.

Why did you post it in the QF forum? Your intent seems pretty clear to me.

There is already a thread in the QF forum to discuss impacts on QF specifically (No QF Flights MEL-SYD for Sale 8 March 2023).

 

[Melburnian1]

By what metric? 60% of fuel? 60% of movements? 60% of revenue?

Channel 9 news quoted Transport Workers Union as stating:

"As Rivet's major client, accounting for at least 60 per cent of the work, Qantas has the ability and responsibility to dictate through its contracts with labour providers that workers refuelling its planes are receiving fair pay and safe working conditions..."

Earlier, the News Ltd online site stated:

"...While Qantas accounts for roughly 60 per cent of Rivet‘s refuelling work the company also services freight carrier DHL as well as international airlines Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Cathay Pacific..."

'The Australian' reported:

"...Qantas was the major airline client of Rivet accounting for roughly 60 per cent of the company’s refuelling work. Freight companies Australia Air Express and DHL and some international carriers also relied on Rivet’s services..."

So the answer seems to be '60 per cent of fuel that Rivet supplies to airlines'.

 

[Melburnian1]

Why did you post it in the QF forum? Your intent seems pretty clear to me.

There is already a thread in the QF forum to discuss impacts on QF specifically (No QF Flights MEL-SYD for Sale 8 March 2023).

But that thread commenced at 2226 hours last night, whereas mine was initiated 14 hours earlier.

The intent was to help other AFFers who may be affected, as these days, some do not read/view the mainstream media, much as I believe it's essential if one wants to be fully informed. If you're not grateful, so be it.

Media stated Qantas was the major client of this Rivet entity, so that's why I posted it in the QFF forum. Logical!

I don't believe QF's claim that such a strike will have 'no impact' on travellers. But we'll see.

 

[justinbrett]

Media stated Qantas was the major client of this Rivet entity, so that's why I posted it in the QFF forum. Logical!

No, it's really not. Seems like the mods agree that the Travel News forum is a more suitable place.

I'm not sure why, even now, you're insisting this is a QF centric issue. Excluding trans Tasman, QF only has 3 international flights out of MEL tomorrow (SIN, DFW & DPS). Far eclipsed by the other international carriers.

Qantas has no commercial relationship with Rivet. It's not surprising the union is trying to drag QF into it.

 

[Melburnian1]

I'm not sure why, even now, you're insisting this is a QF centric issue. Excluding trans Tasman, QF only has 3 international flights out of MEL tomorrow (SIN, DFW & DPS). Far eclipsed by the other international carriers.

A reminder how SYDcentric QFi is, despite Sydney and Melbourne having almost equivalent populations.

 

[Melburnian1]

See the QF delays/cancellations page for outbound flights from MEL given the boot: so far, five including one to Perth at 1325 hours this arvo.