The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
The Forum - On Line Opinion's article discussion area



Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Main Articles General

Sign In      Register

The Forum > Article Comments > When unions fly too high > Comments

When unions fly too high : Comments

By Daniel Bradley, published 14/10/2011

Qantas unions have every right to negotiate for wages, but not to try to run corporate strategy.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. 3
  5. All
The question is not so much the spilt milk, Yabby...

>>But you would also have to concede that good management is about
dealing with the here and now and a plan for the future, not about
crying over spilt milk.<<

...but whether the people who spilt it have actually learned from their mistakes. And frankly, I don't see that they have. Which makes this claim, from the Business Spectator article you cited, something of a joke:

"...the value of Qantas is not in the flying of aircraft as such but the intellectual property and expertise existent in Qantas management... On evidence this is enormously flexible, innovative and with a global perspective."

On what evidence, I wonder?

So far, the evidence points to an expensive lack of due diligence on their decision processes. Painting that as "flexible and innovative" is nothing but PR spin - like calling Vladimir Putin a champion of democracy. You have to squint really hard to see it.

It's interesting too, that the article gives no thought to the cost of trashing the brand entirely. British Airways must be giggling their socks off, especially as they are leasing the Heathrow slots that Qantas no longer have an interest in.
Posted by Pericles, Friday, 14 October 2011 4:01:36 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
*but whether the people who spilt it have actually learned from their mistakes*

To answer that one Pericles, one would need a detailed understanding
of the personalities involved running Qantas. Was it Dixon, who
decided what? None of us really have that kind of insight.

The way I understand it, Joyce was given the job, because he
turned Jetstar into a business which earns as many hundreds of
millions a year, as Qantas international loses. So they would be
using that model in terms of potential for 4 billion Asian customers,
rather then 22 million locals.

Fact is Qantas simply can't compete with Air NZ, Emirates and SQ.
Their costs are too high, people won't pay a premium for Aussie
pilots. Its a whole new game.

So it makes sense to wind down their Qantas international operations,
stop losing 200 million a year, and focus on where profits can
be made. That means 1000 job cuts, which is what the unions are
really on about. They want job security but in today's business world,
your job is only as secure as the company being viable.
Posted by Yabby, Friday, 14 October 2011 4:52:25 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
How many times do unions have to make the same mistake? When the cost of a strike to the company is extremely high, the unions are almost bound to destroy it. The strike weapon is always used to excess.

The history is long, & continuous. Just a few examples could start with the British motor industry. The unions thought Leyland was too big to be allowed to fail. It wasn't. The only motor industry in the UK today is foreign owned, so the profits are exported.

Australian shipping was another. The unions got incredible work conditions, but then the work, with the industry dried up.

Then the British coal industry went.

Of course Ansett is so close to Qantas that it's obvious.

More recently the US motor industry has had to be bailed out. Retirement & health care benefits, given in good times, had finally added just too much overhead for the companies to handle in the rough.

So many of these industries were subject to ridiculous claims, in the very good times. Poor management gives in to the claims to keep the doors open, but find what they have given is not sustainable, in a bit of a down turn.

One of the next to be in trouble will be our own booming mining sector. It won't take much of a drop in the terms of trade, for many of the miners to find the present cost of labour can not handled.

If only wage negotiation was a two way street. I can see no reason why workers should not share in a bonanza when it's available, but sometimes negotiations should lead to a reduction in wages. This would allow increases to be given readily then removed at times of industry stress.

Yes I know, pigs might fly, too.
Posted by Hasbeen, Friday, 14 October 2011 5:12:43 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
will some Australians never learn ?
Posted by individual, Friday, 14 October 2011 6:55:58 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Where is Peter Reith, his attack dogs and balaclava clad pilots and engineers when you need him?
Posted by Neutral, Friday, 14 October 2011 10:00:27 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
I don't know what Pete's up to these days, but his attack dogs and thugs appear to be on indefinite loan to the constabulary.
Posted by The Acolyte Rizla, Friday, 14 October 2011 11:32:17 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. 3
  5. All

About Us :: Search :: Discuss :: Feedback :: Legals :: Privacy