Qantas flights grounded - industrial action

[OhYouBadBadGhostie]

bbc news
posted for info in case it affects anyone.

Remember that Qantas and BA code share - so some "BA" flights to Australia might also not happen if the plane is an Aussie one.

very good point scarevola

It is as you say a drastic action to take. Horrible for those stranded.

I rather hope that this doesnt give other airlines ideas.....

I often find this forum to be quite useful 9or at least interesting]] when it comes to aviation matters.

My DH flew back to Melb from Hong Kong this morning on Qantas.

I am so pleased he got back before this kicked off!

Cor - you most both be very relieved!

Thanks for the PrRune link - looks as if this could last some time.

Its practically impossible to spell it without a 'u'

It does sound verytricky to get out of now. Poor travellers.

Hmmm, interesting strategy. We'll see who blinks first. It does sound like the unions are being unrealistic but at the same time, the CEO hasn't exactly done himself any favours by (allegedly) increasing his own renumeration package by 71%.

That said it does look like that package is based on long term goals rather than straight salary. But at the same time it's pretty hard to defend cuts when you increase your own rewards. Even our leaders took a modest pay cut which whilst a token gesture, is at least a token.

Ultimately I can't see how the unions can win this one. Either Qantas go broke later or they just shut up shop now. Either way, their staff end up unemployed.

mmm, am in Gold Coast, due to fly QF from bne to syd on thurs, looks like we will have a ten hour drive instead :( on BA home from Syd tho.

The subject has appeared in AIBU today.

niceguy2 - there is quite a lot of talk that it could well go bust (and the other companies that are still flying would in effect take over). The strikers, particularly if they are prepared to be internationally mobile, are in roles where finding a new post wouldn't be expected to be that difficult (I'm quoting PrRune here, obviously).

My guess is that the longer it goes on, the more likely that Qantas will vanish.

nightmare Mabs. I hope it goes smoothly for you.

Seems to have disrupted the journeys of 15 world leaders telegraph link

Nice to see everyone sharing the misery!

Fair Work Australia (according to a poster on PrRune) as approved the strike action - will it be them who re-examines it now that lock outs have been announced?

I can answer my own question - yes it is Fair Work Australia who is arbitrating.

SKY has a stringer outside the talks, which have just adjourned for dinner. They think it likely there will be a announcement in the next few hours.

The management is adamant that action must be called off; the unions appear to be offering a 4 weeks suspension to allow for further negotiation with right to reinstate action if no progress.

They estimate it would take at least 12 hours from any suspension of action for any flights to start taking off.

Hope no-one else (other than William Hague) is caught up in this.

thanks Ghostie :) will cope i am sure..

I think thats good news???

Brilliant :)

I don't know the issues in any great details but from what I can tell Qantas are losing money because they cannot compete with international carriers. So they must slash costs.

This is not about a company trying to up profits at the expense of staff. This is about a company surviving in the long run or not.

The world has changed around the big airlines. Like them of loathe them, carriers like Easyjet & Ryanair have shaken up the market and people simply want cheap nowadays. So they're voting with their wallets. Even in companies like mine, we are mandated to use the cheapest carrier, not the one which gives us the best service or the best loyalty points.

So in order to survive, they have to be more like their competitors, outsource to lower cost countries. That way at least some of the existing Qantas staff will have jobs. Whereas longer term, at the rate they are going, none of them will.

It will be interesting to see what happens.