Doug PollardUnion up to their old tricks
Qantas cancelled 18 flights today, and it looks likely they will have to cancel more tomorrow.
What are the causes of these cancellations? A pay dispute strike orchestrated by the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA). Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are all being affected, as aircraft engineers demand a 5% pay rise, instead of the 3% pay rise Qantas are offering.
The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) president Paul Cousins apologises to the public for flight disruptions.
But Qantas' chief executive officer Geoff Dixon says Qantas will not be backing down from their offer of 3% pay rise. He even went as far as threatening to employ external engineers to do the work. He also labelled the apology "a joke":
Source: AAP
Wally says: Well done to Geoff Dixon for not backing down to the Union. Qantas has managed to grow its business over the years, adding 8000 jobs. The cancellation of flights is hurting Qantas, and I back their move to employ external engineers if the current engineers refuse to work. A 3% pay rise in the current airline industry economic climate is not such a bad deal, with fuel cost rising and making it very difficult for airlines to prosper.
What are the causes of these cancellations? A pay dispute strike orchestrated by the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA). Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are all being affected, as aircraft engineers demand a 5% pay rise, instead of the 3% pay rise Qantas are offering.
The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) president Paul Cousins apologises to the public for flight disruptions.
I'd like to apologise to the Australian flying public, he told ABC Online.
We have been forced into this position by Qantas who seems to wish to dictate an outdated wages policy upon its employees.
We have been forced into this position by Qantas who seems to wish to dictate an outdated wages policy upon its employees.
But Qantas' chief executive officer Geoff Dixon says Qantas will not be backing down from their offer of 3% pay rise. He even went as far as threatening to employ external engineers to do the work. He also labelled the apology "a joke":
"I think the fact that they are apologising to passengers is a little bit of a joke," Mr Dixon told ABC Radio. "They're the ones putting on this industrial disputation, not us."
"We're not prepared to contemplate 5 per cent," he said.
"We will have a record profit this year but we'll also have in the year coming up in about two weeks time $2 billion more in our fuel bill than the current year.
"Everybody, apparently except the engineers, realise that fuel is almost out of control, that all airlines around the world are making major changes to their business and we have to do the same."
"We will have a record profit this year but we'll also have in the year coming up in about two weeks time $2 billion more in our fuel bill than the current year.
"Everybody, apparently except the engineers, realise that fuel is almost out of control, that all airlines around the world are making major changes to their business and we have to do the same."
Source: AAP
Wally says: Well done to Geoff Dixon for not backing down to the Union. Qantas has managed to grow its business over the years, adding 8000 jobs. The cancellation of flights is hurting Qantas, and I back their move to employ external engineers if the current engineers refuse to work. A 3% pay rise in the current airline industry economic climate is not such a bad deal, with fuel cost rising and making it very difficult for airlines to prosper.
