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Quote:

Originally Posted by Yusef D (Post 116081)

Several work groups within Virgin are seething with discontent at the management's savage cuts and treatment of employees as cost burdens. Wages and conditions were slashed during a time the airline's continued existence was in doubt. A number of contracts are due this year, conditions are far behind other employers and management just wants to hold the place together with sticky tape long enough for it to be hastily sold.

If further flying, especially long haul flying (Haneda) was to be outsourced the pilots and flight attendants would scream blue murder.

If this is all true (not saying it's not, by the way), then yes it might be controversial for VA to use a wet-leased A330.

On the other hand, it would be a big win for VA to be able to get back to that kind of operation and would, likely, be a short-term solution until they were in a position to source and operate their own aircraft. VA's success in this sense would only serve to improve the pay and conditions for on-board crew in the longer term, surely? And, indeed, such services may well be operated with VA cabin crew.

What lot of claims?

EA negotiation is underway for the following work groups:

Ground Crew VAA (ADL, BNE, SYD, MEL)

Engineers VAA

Engineers VARA

Pilots VARA

Cabin Crew VAA next quarter

Pilots VAA end of year

Most of these groups have gone backwards in pay and conditions while their peers at other companies have gone forward.

VAA pilots and CC are on lower salaries than Qantas 737, JQ A320 and even the since-rejected offer from Rex 737.

It's not a happy place at Virgin.

I feel for VA staff but at the end of the day they are run by a VC, VA are apparently bullish about an international push with China the focus, and Smartlinx are recruiting crew with Chinese Visa preferences ….