Let me paint the picture...
I am a Fly In Fly Out miner working in the Bowen Basin (Site is about 200 K out from Mackay). My usual routine is to fly into Mackay then bus out to the site, work 7 days then obviously do it all again in reverse. The bus trip from site takes about 2 1/2 hours dependant on roadworks/traffic etc.
Jetstar contacted me about a change to my schedule, The flight in question was booked for a 10:15 AM departure, Mackay to Brisbane. the bus transfer from site leaves at 7:00 AM- 2 1/2HR trip to be at the airport by 9:30 AM check in- no problem... you would think?
Jetstar wanted to bring my flight forward by 1 HR for a 9:15 AM departure- Making it impossible for me to make it in time.
I contacted Jetstar to tell them that this was not suitable due to timing, and I physically could not make it to the Airport in time. They then offered me an alternative flight for 4:40 PM that afternon, I explained to them that this was also not suitable as I was coming off night shift and it did not meet with our companies fatigue management policy.
The timeline for this scenario would of looked something like this;
Wake the previous day @ 3:00 PM prepare and go to work, Work a 12 1/2 HR shift, Catch bus to Mackay airport arriving between approximately 9:30/9:45 AM, Sit at airport for 8 HRS, Fly home 1 1/2 HRS, Board a train and travel for another 1 1/2 HRS then drive 15mins to my home. A total of about 30 HRS without sleep.
After hearing about this scenario and the possible risk involved with being awake for so long then having to operate a motor vehicle to get home, the case manager told me she wouldn't advise this, but it "wasn't their problem"
Jetstar obviously have no idea on OH&S issues.
Would they let one of their pilots operate under these conditions!?!
She did go on to say that had, "I had a Doctors appointment" they would consider a refund, If they consider a Doctors appointment a valid reason based on Health concerns, How does fatigue management not quite rate under the same reasoning?
Her closing statement was that it was not Jetstar's problem that I couldn't get someone to drop me at the Airport earlier and that she couldn't help me.
FIFO miners spend a considerable amount of money every year commuting to work, How many get treated with this amount of contempt and disregard! I urge all miners to boycott Jetstar.
Service industry... MY A@@!!!
Comments
I do 30+hrs no sleep flying
I do 30+hrs no sleep flying from Saigon to Brisbane and back every 28days.(work in oil and gas) I can't sleep on planes or buses etc. I just wander around like a zombie drinking coffee in airports.
I've also worked 46hrs straight in the past.
You need to get a taxi home mate. Its 15mins + you can claim it as a tax deduction.
Geez miners need to drink a mug of cement and.....
Yeah, thanks Mik... Its not
Yeah, thanks Mik... Its not about hardening up, wanker.
Its about duty of care and OH&S.
When I grow up I wanna be just like you.
On second thought....
no you cannot claim the taxi
no you cannot claim the taxi on tax
We had a schedule change -
We had a schedule change - whereby they moved our flight forward an hour ( to a flight that actually had cost $100 less mind you - we had spent the extra to travel later) In this case, i refused the 'flight changes' - and demanded a refund instead. It did take 6 weeks, and they continued to send me emails telling me to 'accept changes'... but we did get the money back. Ring back and speak to another idiot? Did you ask to speak to a supervisor??