The Down UnderWare Chronicles

or

Please kids, don’t try this stunt on your own! This should never be attempted without full police supervision, and then only by mature, married people who have had years of experience with situations that could turn ugly at a moments notice.

Ansett and America West
"The Real Story"

F.O. Michael Stuart      

I have been shaking my head since first reading the article written by
Captain Bill White nearly two weeks ago. I don't understand how anyone who has "researched the situation" could have such a convoluted and distorted picture of what is happening in Australia. Considering the only reference given is phone numbers of Federation pilots, my conclusion is Bill doesn't have all the facts.

The facts given to Bill have been taken out of chronological context, and understandably reflect the AFAP/ALPA viewpoint.   There is however, a great deal more to the story. My research is the two and a half months I lived and worked there, as well as the insight gained from my association with Ansett pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, and most importantly, the Australian people.

In order to understand "the situation in Australia," one must step back in
time to the formation of the Australian Air Pilots Association (father of the Australian Federation of Airline Pilots) some 43 years ago, and understand that AFAP has become the strongest and most successful union in a nation dominated by unions. Without a doubt the AFAP and it's predecessor had won every single industrial challenge they had ever embarked on. Ansett Airlines was usually their target, and after a few days at the most, Reg Ansett (founder) would simply roll over and give them what they demanded. It was as simple as that. With the only competition being the government owned Australian Airlines, Ansett's market share was at risk from the opening bell. Ansett had no real options.

This time however, things have changed down under.   The Wage Accords were instituted by the government in an attempt to curb an inflation rate that has ravaged the economy, as well as limited wage increases to acceptable amounts based largely on productivity within the work force.    AFAP chose to challenge these accords, which have been working, the government, and the Australian people all at once.    In the words of their leader Captain Brian McCarthy when interviewed by 60 Minutes, "Because we are special."     C'mon Brian, you don't really believe that, do you?

Well he must have, because the Federation refused to even discuss productivity increases until they received a 23.47% increase in pay. McCarthy said publicly that, "This is not negotiable." The airlines refused to pay and the government ordered them back into the cockpit. Understand that the pilot's award (contract) was not even due for renegotiation at this time. Then, threatened with Industrial Relations Board action against the Federation and civil writs against individual pilots for staging an illegal strike, the Federation
acted upon some very poor legal advice and resigned. THAT'S RIGHT—RESIGNED!

They listened to the "union hall mentality" that generates from this sort of confrontation arid actually quit their damned jobs. They have received their retirement and accrued leave checks, and are no longer employed by Ansett or Australian Airlines. Many of these poor blokes had no idea what the Federation had done to them until they got these checks. Now, faced with the reality of what has been done and feeling some contempt for the "brotherhood" that sabotaged then, they are returning to their jobs. Make no mistake, the newfound and totally uncharacteristic willingness of the Federation to negotiate with the airlines has only been since it became apparent that it no longer represented an ever increasing number of its former members. The public announcement of this willingness came on the heels of another announcement. The resignation from the Federation of its executive secretary for the state of Victoria.   I don't know about anyone else, but I smell a rat.

"Non-pilot employees of the affected airlines, except for some flight attendants, all remain employed and continue to receive their normal wages." I must say this is true. The only reason this is true however is America West Airlines, and the few individuals among us who kept Ansett Airlines alive while they began a very slow and painful rebuilding process. Without our presence in Australia, Ansett would have gone the Aussie equivalent of Braniff (another brotherhood carrier) and there would be an additional 13,000 people unemployed as a result of these "special" pilots. By the way, as of this writing, a number of former Braniff pilots are either in training or on their way to Australia to become Ansett employees.    So much for the Brotherhood!.   The Australian
government has in fact allocated $100 million to pay the bill for this dispute. It amounts to much the same paper shuffle that currently hides the Aviation Trust Fund from the accountants at the GAC in Washington D.C. It is a trade-off of future landing charges incurred by the airlines if and when they return to normal service, to be drawn "not in excess of $20 million per week." It is not an actual payout to the airlines.

The "cabotage" mentioned in Bill's article is happening. EVERY SINGLE airline operating an international route segment within the domestic route structure in Australia is carrying domestic passengers. I have followed them down the Aussie airways, and witnessed deplaning passengers with their boarding passes marked with a large, orange "D" in their hot little hands. The "D" indicates domestic and makes it possible to proceed without clearing customs.

British Airways, Continental, Cathay Pacific, Thai, Lufthansa (I have a copy of theirs), and yes the "Grand Exalted PUBA of the Brotherhood" -- United. Those are the facts mates.

America West pilots who chose to serve in Australia DID NOT RECEIVE A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN PAY,  we received a guarantee of 100 hours per month. Since I flew 102 credit hours in September and 98 hours in October, I don't see this as an increase in pay or benefits.   Granted I am not a graduate of the Henry Duffy School of Creative Finance, but the $40 a day I netted on my per diem does not appear to be a bonanza.

The business of the "Scabtracker"' bulletin board is distressing from the
standpoint that the information provided to this childish endeavor was without question provided by someone at America West. My home address, PO number, and seniority number were not given to anyone in Australia.

Yes, we were given security at our hotel.   We never saw them and had no idea who they were. We were told that security was on the property. They must have done their job well because we had absolutely "no worries" or hassles in the hotel complex, and we lived in a pretty big place. I walked alone night or day anywhere I pleased without a single encounter or unpleasant circumstance.

We also had security at the weather briefing and flight planning area at the airport.   I know of only two or three instances of Federation people standing around giving us the "EVIL EYE" or telling us they wished we would go home. That is what got us the security in the first place! Ansett did not want to take a chance of having some American creating an international incident by escalating a rather minor verbal exchange into an old-fashioned East Chicago street fight. Yanks do tend to have an attitude, you know.    However, the Australian people at large were much more than well received. They were warm, friendly, hospitable, and incredibly thankful and glad that we were there. They tried to buy drinks in the pubs, dinner in the restaurants, and were always glad to have a conversation. They never failed to thank us as they deplaned, and many, many offered a "Good on ya' mate" as they left the aircraft. The Australian public is sick and tired of listening to the Federation cry and moan about how mistreated and underpaid the pilots are, and many have stated so in the press and man on the street interviews with the media. I was invited to spend the night, taken to the countryside, and shown the splendid sights of Australia by people who were not employed by or had any connection with Ansett or even involved with this dispute directly. Those, mates, are the facts.   The Aussies are damned glad to be rid of the Federation, and damned glad to have air service. They are very open in their appreciation.

I encourage all of you with an interest in seeing Australia and doing some very interesting flying in this "Land Down Under", to contact the flight manager's office or contact any one of the people who have seen the situation FIRST HAND for the straight story. Of course, I am not so naive as to think that the pilots at America West who insist on stirring the foul smelling bucket of discontent will take the time, but I am sure they couldn't see the forest for the trees anyway.

It is also worthy to mention that we at America West owe a great deal to
Ansett Airlines and Sir Peter Abeles.   We have benefited from a large
amount of equipment from them (much of which was purchased at below market rates) and, also, we have a very large percentage of our company's stock in their hands that needs to be protected from the Donald Trumps of the world.   I might also mention that the Australian operation contributes a sizable chunk to our bottom line. We will likely see an increase to our fleet size as a direct result, and we are surely putting ourselves in a position to someday have 747 service into Sydney and Melbourne.

Love him or hate him, Mike Conway is right about this, "We cannot afford to make policy and run this company based on the Jumpseat." His words not mine.

But, I agree and support his decision to send us to Australia.   I am proud of the accomplishments we made and the professional manner with which we made them. Ansett Airlines has learned a lot from us about operating a deregulated airline.

The America West presence will be felt there long after we all come home.