AAT Bus drivers may strike over pay conditions

Comments

Paul
1 Aug 12
4:05 pm


Good on ya fella’s, stick it to them! Having been there and done that, I know exactly how little respect they have for those who are essentially the backbone of their business. Good Luck!

Greg Cole
1 Aug 12
6:53 pm


“Stick it to them!” That’s the spirit, Paul. We’re in the middle of one of the worst tourism spending and arrival slumps in a long long time. Our key source markets are scrambling for every Euro they can find, and Australia’s value-for-money as a destination rating is in the toilet. And you say stick it to them?

Maybe AAT are looking for ways to survive. They’ve been around for a long time and over that time have owned some of the finest tour coaches in Australia and employed terrific driver/guides to drive them. They’re smart, they know – without a doubt they know – how important drivers are. What’s probably happening is that AAT and the drivers were talking then the TWU got involved and made some outrageous claim as a starting point. AAT probably realised that to accept it would kill profits and are not sure what the next move is. The TWU aren’t fools, but I doubt they understand our industry and its imperative they do. That’s what I think, anyway.

Paul
1 Aug 12
8:55 pm


You can think that way Greg, but then there’s the facts.

For particular reasons I cannot divulge too much more information apart from the fact that for many years there has been significant internal operational problems.

Most of the drivers have got sick of nothing being done about them and as per normal there are two alternatives:

Firstly, most just resign and move on,

Otherrwise, those that remain are ones who really enjoy doing the people part of touring and see the only way to overcome the ‘headache’ side is to push for higher wages.

They (AAT) dont seem to realise that if they just spent a few dollars on fixing some of those problems, most of the drivers would be happy with what theyre getting paid and wouldnt be pushing for more!

Just as an example, if you were a passenger that got picked up at 6am and drove around Darwin for 45 mins and then waited at Transit centre for another 15 while 1res staff was trying to despatch 3 full coaches, 1 coaster and a 4wd tour! The first hour of your 14hr kakadu tour is spent driving around Darwin! As a passenger, you would be somewhat peeved. As a driver, your pushing shit up hill running late trying to appease and give the customers a great experience!

Scotty
1 Aug 12
9:08 pm


Annnnnnnd, Greg Cole LEAPS IN!!! This time, wearing his Conservative cape and going AGAINST the moral grain he`d recently shown in his criticism of Destination Q and Green policies on shark protection.

Now, he`s equally comfortable allying himself with the capitalist bosses, the owners of AAT, against the workers, the bus drivers.

I am happy to wear many labels, but one thing I can NEVER be accused of is changing my ideals.

I am no Union man and have no idea how or why the issue behind this thread came about, so, won`t comment on the issue, but only marvel at the idealogical flexibility of chameleon Greg Cole.

Paul
1 Aug 12
11:51 pm


You will be pleased to know Greg that literally 11th hour discussions just concluded with a resolution.

Yes they have been around for years, but for the last 15 or so they have been owned by UK based multinational – The Travel Corporation who has continually screwed the wringer out of the business during that time.

So no matter what the outcome, I have no doubt that with their global backing and now highly monoplosied NT market share they will still be around for a while yet anyway!

Greg Cole
2 Aug 12
6:56 am


Let’s face it Scotty, as an aspiring politician you’re just too scared to comment outside your thimble-sized package of ideals. These are big issues and big issues require flexibility not your village axe-wielding mentality. Politics is about leadership on issues and as far as leadership goes your training wheels are well and truly on – you have no experience at it. A big voice and broad shoulders might win you some grins here and there, but really? If you want to succeed drop the boorish attacking facade and go to leadership school. You might meet some of the incredibly successful job creating wealth creating “conservative bosses”. Be careful though, they’d eat you for morning tea at this rate.

Anon
2 Aug 12
8:48 am


Can someone please set up a boxing ring at Wake Up during the expo week in November and put Greg Cole and Scotty in it?! All for charity of course! I reckon there is huge money to be made.

Either that or we can have an unofficial who’s got the biggest cock competition during a lunch break at a conference!

Scotty
2 Aug 12
9:50 am


Anon, don`t talk about chickens on here, please! Let`s stick to the points.

Greg reckons he beat me in the Discounting debate 2 years ago, anyhow.

It`s funny how he thinks he knows about leadership: he was by far the rudest GM I`ve ever met in my life when he worked for Oz, and his leadership left the brand much the poorer.

I bit of a scroll through the history of debate on many threads has seen Greg vigorously defend, and then viciously attack, TUI, support Scotty`s (which is modelled on my “thimble-sized package of ideals” and attitude about what the travel experience should be all about), agree with me about the need to form a group of businesses that support excellent experiences and represent value to the modern travellers, then attack me for suggesting culling should not be overlooked as a means of reducing the shark fatality rate in WA.

The man is a marvel of flexibility and vigour and should be representing New Zealand in gymnastics, fair dinkum!!

“Boorish attacking facades” aside, what,exactly, IS your bottom line, Greg?

anon
2 Aug 12
10:49 am


When the facts change, I change my mind – john maynard keynes

annonamouse
2 Aug 12
11:23 am


All this talk of thimble sized packages, maybe it’s wise for there be a cock measuring competition.

Claire
2 Aug 12
11:27 am


@ Greg Cole, AAT “trying to survive”???? Maybe with the recent agreement with APT and all the extra business AAT are receiving they are pushing their staff harder without passing on recent good fortunes to the people who matter? Maybe individuals who have done exactly the same in the past feel they need to defend the big companies when they screw employees?

For far too long tourism employees have fallen into a grey area legally that allows companies to take advantage of them. I for one can’t wait to see the end of “the good old days” where company execs reap the benifit of the hard work of others without passing anything on all the while hiding behind lines like “it’s a lifestyle job not a well paid one”.

Anon
2 Aug 12
12:14 pm


Claire, you clearly don’t own a business and probably never will.The fact remains that all businesses are suffering world wide with the added costs of compliance etc discussed on BTN before.

In all my years in business, no staff member has ever asked for less pay, only more. If this continues on in any industry, businesses will continue to close.

Generation Y in particular want to work less and earn more. No one cares about how hard the bosses are feeling it as we are all obviously millionaires.

Get real. Striking is not the way forward. They are lucky to have work available. Just ask any Greeks!

Anon
2 Aug 12
1:40 pm


My vote/bet is on Scotty.. Is the event to be held in Side Bar or the Wake Up reception? The backpackers would love it!

Anon
2 Aug 12
2:12 pm


Is this the cock event or the boxing?

scotty
2 Aug 12
2:37 pm


I reckon it would be an un-edifying spectacle, personally; the older I get, the better I was……

On Claire`s point of wages not matching the work of the employee, I would agree and dis-agree with you on that.

From my experience in tourism, 2 sectors that were once wildly successful here in Oz but now require real money for a person to enjoy, having suffered from the industrial arbitration process are scuba diving and white water rafting.

Once upon a time,the folks who took people down the river or below the waves were working a ‘lifestyle’, getting paid to do what they loved. As such, they worked long days for a reasonable amount and accepted the fact their earnings were less than other fields could have paid them but, hey! look at my office!!!

This allowed the tours to be sold at a reasonable rate and everyone was happy. The expansion of the tourism visitor numbers in the 90`s saw the need to increase the numbers of instructors/guides, however, leading to the hiring of folks who WEREN`T lifestyle-oriented. These newcomers wanted an hourly rate, not a per-trip rate, and also were keen on unheard of things, such as holiday loading, time in lieu for public holidays, a career structure, etc. Allied to growing regulatory and insurance compliance costs, this increased the price per guest ratio and the rest is history.

This may be a simplistic way of looking at things, Claire, but I can assure you that for every tourism company executive who is lording it and popping off to Macau in their Lear jet, there are 99 operators just covering their expenses and wages, with no savings in the bank.

We have had our fair share of disasters, man made and natural, and costs continue to rise which my small business cannot pass on with accommodation businesses North and South of me offering beds from $13 (down 50% from 2009 prices), which is what we charged circa 1994 (we weren`t kicking it in the Bahamas back then, either!)

Whether the larger, corporate hostels and tours or the smaller,’lifestyle’ ones, like mine,can succeed in the next 5-10 years will be dependent on tourism employees accepting that their income will never match the miners but they still get to enjoy being ambassadors for their country in a fun industry. Believe me, FIFO isn`t a fun way to make a buck and may be of short-duration to boot.

Paul
2 Aug 12
2:44 pm


Not sure about any of this cock n bull shit, but here’s a few facts for the likes of anon12.

Not too many of the AAT drivers are gen Y, more X and W, guys who do have a good respect for a good days work for a good days pay. Are they suppose to live below the poverty line? They were simply asking for a CPI rise plus a few public holiday penalties, but as per normal arrogance, AAT offered significantly less and can only blame themselves.

Not sure of your personal scenario, but if Travel Corp boss has to sell his Swiss chalet to meet the demands, tough titty!

And if you expect anyone to work for you on less than minimum wage, good luck!

Stumpy
3 Aug 12
9:20 am


It astounds me that some people use this forum to attack and belittle one another, this is a place where thoughts should be shared without the fear of being ridiculed in front of others in the industry. Sometimes you go too far and as many of you are the “industry leaders” these types of conversations are becoming more and more cringe worthy.
Comments like this from Anon,
Claire, you clearly don’t own a business and probably never will.
Really, are you 12 years old?, play nice people.

Brett Eldershaw
9 Aug 12
2:59 pm


I couldn’t agree more with Stumpy. If contributors to this forum are unable to express an opinion that happens to differ from others then how can we except to progress as a united industry?

Personally I find the more passionate I am about something or attached to an idea then the more I object to any alternative line of thinking. More often than not this is to my detriment.

May I suggest we maintain the passion AND not let it blind us to the folly of our egos believing we are right right right.

There seems to be a consensus that our industry is overburdened with red tape and regulation. Then let’s use this forum as a opportunity to self regulate ourselves in how we communicate among ourselves.

I guesstimate (happy for BTN to qualify) that the number of comments and variety of contributors has diminished a bit. I welcome anonomous contributors as why does it really matter who they are? Plenty of blogs and forums are sustained by people with made up names. You could even argue that not knowing who they are takes away any subjectivity in critiquing their comments.

We need people from all areas of our industry from drivers to sales consultants to business owners to execs contributing. If someone ventures an opinion or fact that can be proven incorrect then the hope is that someone will jump in and say, “Actually…”.

So are we up to it?

Josh
14 Nov 12
11:23 am


Anon, what a generalisation against Gen Y! I don’t believe in all the Generation stereotypes, everyone is different. I am 27 and actually relate better to older people than young and am more traditional in my ways. Young people are working just as hard as anybody else to build a successful career. Everyone entitled to their opinion with out personal attacks. Love the Tourism industry but opportunities are limited sometimes.

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