ID :
172200
Thu, 03/31/2011 - 13:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/172200
The shortlink copeid
Senator queries bully culture at Jetstar
SYDNEY, March 31 (AAP) - Independent senator Nick Xenophon has used an email from a Jetstar pilot to raise concerns about a bullying culture at the budget airline.
The unnamed pilot told colleagues who were complaining about fatigue from long shifts to "toughen up princesses".
"You aren't fatigued, you are tired and can't be bothered going to work," the email said.
Senator Xenophon produced a copy of the email during a Senate inquiry into pilot training and airline safety, which was hearing evidence from Qantas boss Alan Joyce and Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan.
Mr Buchanan earlier had told the hearing Jetstar pilots were working fewer hours than the maximum allowed, so the company could manage fatigue among cabin crew.
He said he had not seen the email before, prompting Senator Xenophon to question the company's culture.
"The potential intimidation in this email is alarming and indicates there may be a bullying culture among pilots," he told reporters outside the Canberra hearing on Thursday.
It was "quite telling" that pilots did not complain to Jetstar management.
"If people are making complaints about their level of fatigue and they feel they can't raise it with senior management because of the culture in the organisation, that would have to be concerning."
Mr Buchanan said Jetstar pilots were flying on average 18 hours a week, below the compliance maximum of 25.
Mr Joyce emphasised that there was a dual responsibility when it came to pilot fatigue, saying the airline could not regulate the activities of off-duty pilots.
But pilots had an obligation to be fit to work.
"It is up to the pilot to identify if he is feeling fatigue ... and shouldn't be flying," Mr Joyce told the hearing.
Qantas was responsible for ensuring its roster design minimised and eliminated pilot fatigue, so that it did not affect the safe operation of aircraft.
Monique Neeteson-Lemkes, a domestic flight attendant with Jetstar, said airline management was not impressed with cabin crew who turned down shifts due to fatigue.
"The action is not looked upon favourably," she told the inquiry.
Ms Neeteson-Lemkes, who said she was appearing before the inquiry as a private individual, said morale at Jetstar was "very low".
"I would say it is a very toxic workplace at the moment," she said.
Speaking to reporters in Sydney on Thursday, Mr Buchanan said he believed the use of the word "princesses" was just "banter" between employees.
"I think it was about banter between different employees," Mr Buchanan said.
"People use colourful language to get across their message. As I said, it doesn't represent the views of management."
The email was sent between a small group of about 20 pilots in Perth, Mr Buchanan added.
"This isn't a big group of employees, or one of our bases like in Sydney and Melbourne where we might have hundreds of people," he said.
"This is a fairly small tight-knit group and I imagine they communicate as you would to a friend or a colleague in a fairly direct and open way."
The unnamed pilot told colleagues who were complaining about fatigue from long shifts to "toughen up princesses".
"You aren't fatigued, you are tired and can't be bothered going to work," the email said.
Senator Xenophon produced a copy of the email during a Senate inquiry into pilot training and airline safety, which was hearing evidence from Qantas boss Alan Joyce and Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan.
Mr Buchanan earlier had told the hearing Jetstar pilots were working fewer hours than the maximum allowed, so the company could manage fatigue among cabin crew.
He said he had not seen the email before, prompting Senator Xenophon to question the company's culture.
"The potential intimidation in this email is alarming and indicates there may be a bullying culture among pilots," he told reporters outside the Canberra hearing on Thursday.
It was "quite telling" that pilots did not complain to Jetstar management.
"If people are making complaints about their level of fatigue and they feel they can't raise it with senior management because of the culture in the organisation, that would have to be concerning."
Mr Buchanan said Jetstar pilots were flying on average 18 hours a week, below the compliance maximum of 25.
Mr Joyce emphasised that there was a dual responsibility when it came to pilot fatigue, saying the airline could not regulate the activities of off-duty pilots.
But pilots had an obligation to be fit to work.
"It is up to the pilot to identify if he is feeling fatigue ... and shouldn't be flying," Mr Joyce told the hearing.
Qantas was responsible for ensuring its roster design minimised and eliminated pilot fatigue, so that it did not affect the safe operation of aircraft.
Monique Neeteson-Lemkes, a domestic flight attendant with Jetstar, said airline management was not impressed with cabin crew who turned down shifts due to fatigue.
"The action is not looked upon favourably," she told the inquiry.
Ms Neeteson-Lemkes, who said she was appearing before the inquiry as a private individual, said morale at Jetstar was "very low".
"I would say it is a very toxic workplace at the moment," she said.
Speaking to reporters in Sydney on Thursday, Mr Buchanan said he believed the use of the word "princesses" was just "banter" between employees.
"I think it was about banter between different employees," Mr Buchanan said.
"People use colourful language to get across their message. As I said, it doesn't represent the views of management."
The email was sent between a small group of about 20 pilots in Perth, Mr Buchanan added.
"This isn't a big group of employees, or one of our bases like in Sydney and Melbourne where we might have hundreds of people," he said.
"This is a fairly small tight-knit group and I imagine they communicate as you would to a friend or a colleague in a fairly direct and open way."
