To be unhappy that Quantas have grounded all flights

[Iamseeingstars]

which means that passengers all around the world are stuck, or that hard earned money for holidays that now will not happen.

I hate the fact that it is the general public, who have no control whatsover, are the victims.

That's militant Unions for you! You could write and thank them?

I don't know enough about why they have called the strike but surely unforeseen circumstances is why you have travel insurance?

Yes it is sad that there are people who will have to delay holidays but people don't forgo their wage packets for however many days they are striking to score points. They are unhappy with working pay and conditions. Thank god they have a right to strike!

Yes but are you being unreasonable about what?

YABU, but yes, I feel so sorry for passengers, but equally the crew working for the airline. Passengers will get to where they need to go.

I think good on Qantas for not rolling over to unrealistic demands personally, but it's horrible if you're stuck in the middle of it

I only fly Qantas if I have no other choice as I find their level of service appalling. I find it hard to have sympathy with people who are so crap at their job!

Interestingly Singapore Airlines are not allowed to strike. No strikes at all are allowed in Singapore- everyone has to go to Government mediation with disputes.

The CEO of Qantas grounded all flights expecting the government to step in and force the unions to stop their industrial action as required under the Act. He contacted the relevant ministers and tried to contact the PM but she was still busy with CHOGM, so it didn't quite work as planned. The unions have been calling strikes, passengers make other arrangements, then the unions call off the strikes at the last minute. We're not talking people on a minimum wage here. These are well paid people who are worried about their jobs going offshore and their standard of living slipping, but as in the UK the standard of living here in Oz is unsustainable, wages and associated costs are cheaper elsewhere, so it's only a matter of time before it all comes tumbling down.

Readers here might be interested in the "In The News thread started by OYBBK yesterday, and which includes a useful links to discussions of the reasons for and reactions to the strike.

Australia is being ruined by Unions. A friend works for the oil industry there and when the vessels arrive in Australia with pipes the Unions insist that the crew must be Australian. All the original non-Australian crew have to be let go.

My friend tells me that what happens when the Aussie crew go on board is that productivity declines and accident rates increase. I have lots more similar stories.

It just proves that in properly organised and civilised countries strikes and lockouts belong in a previous era to be replaced by compulsory tow-way binding arbitration so that the public are not affected. Neither the company nor the unions should be allowed to hold people to ransom.

am in Gold Coast at mo, prob have to drive up to sydney rather than fly at end of week :( very interestin here at the mo!

MABS - I hope you know where you are going. Sydney is down the way - not up!

Australia is far from being strangled by unions, Annanymous, and welcome to mumsnet.

"Your friend"? Care to say more?

What does any of the vague shit you say have to do with the QANTAS dispute?

echt - I obviously know more about this than you do, but no, I don't really care to say more to you.

oooh handbags

The unions have been telling potential customers to book with other airlines, as they may strike over Christmas.

Looks like they got their wish - there'll be no flights to book!

yep, kow where i am driving i assure you but thanks, just a turn of phrase

Er... Annanymous, precisely how do you know more about this than I do?

You've cited nothing except your friend... who is... and employed by whom?

Tell us more about your "similar stories", why don't you?

Sorry, you said you don't care to say more to me.

Do you know me (and you don't) or can't you be arsed to argued your case?

Alan Joyce, the Qantas CEO (ex Ryanair) is trying to turn it into a low cost airline staffed by low paid Asian based workers. I don't think he gets how Australians see Qantas and actually like having it as an Australian based airline with high safety standards. I think some of the workers' conditions need to be changed a bit but not in the brutal way he has been proposing.
The level of impact on everybody being stranded is massive.

haunted Singapore is not a democracy as we would know it and does not recognise many human and labour rights. Australia is and does. What's your point?

The general feeling here seems to be that it is an extreme act of brinkmanship. The govt is getting involved; it will be interesting to see what happens.

I understand about outsourcing - I just think that outsourcing a national airline is a catastrophic mistake.