imho, a very wise move, now Gillard MUST get involved and send all to arbitration

i understand security of employment/staffing levels cannot be referred by the gov't to arbitration, so in end union loses, which is the proper resolution

I don't see the unions just backing down (at least for 24 hours)

crunch...... country grinds to a halt

in so many ways we don't even realise

Joyce has done what he was put in to do.Make jetstar the major company and close down Qantas.

The man is way out of his depth. Handling negotiation like confrontation.

Then again he just getting what he wants. Destroying Qantas and a Australian Icon. It's like a foreign boss coming in and wanting to turn Vegemite Blue.

Unbelievable.

It's Xmas early for Joyce

Pay rise - Check
Giving Qantas a further bad name - Check
Jetstar flights full - Check
Virgin flights full - Check

Now if only he could get 40 x A320's up and running overnight for Jetstar and he'd be laughing

Not that surprising really - its the 98 water front dispute all over again but this time it looks like the government isn't involved. Certainly a game changer and a brave move. Federal Government will need to get invovled now. Hate to be a QANTAS worker or passenger right now.

if only my Christmas present came early

- Get rid of Joyce
- Rebuild QFA to its former glory
- 787's to Qantas

John

John - Indeed

Virgin Australia fares have gone through the roof!!!!!!!

Is the freight that comes into Sydney via SQ/MH/EK/CPA and so on handled by Qantas ground crews? If so are they also locked out...