[?]-Freighted PIMs
p. 23 · Read in the full issue
[?]RY ! [?]n-Arrival of April [?]-Freighted PIMs
nes of “PIM” which normally Papua by air-freight were, in , sent by sea, as at the time they ready for despatch, the Qantas’ strike was continuing. It )een intended to send all New ta copies by sea, also. But on 20 the strike was called off elieving that air-freight might be faster, we recalled the es of the magazines and de i them to Qantas Sydney air t office on April 23—right the Easter holidays. On May least half of these bundles still there, in Sydney, along ',OOO lb of other backlog freight, far as we can ascertain, the half of the “PlM’s” deposited nil 23 went forward to New a by special freighter about fc after the strike ended. How no particular order was 'ed in sending individual s and it appears that some ( in some towns received their es, while others in the same lid not. Our own office in Lae ot received supplies up until although other establishments e had their “PlM’s” a week repeat: All bundles of the mes were deposited with s on the same day, April 23. that it was out of our hands. ), however, apologise for the enience cause d.—PACIFIC
Ications Pty. Ltd
air-freighting business is back loading. There is much cargo avail able going north from Australia to New Guinea; but virtually nothing coming south from New Guinea to Australia. If this problem could be solved, P-NG residents could expect much better air-cargo facilities.
How Other Countries Were
Affected
NEW CALEDONIA, which has three Qantas flights from Syd ney every four weeks, missed out on the flight on April 18.
New Zealand people were stranded in Norfolk Island when one of the Norfolk-Auckland fortnightly flights, operated by Qantas under charter to TEAL, was cancelled.
The disappearance of the Qantas Sydne y-North American flights meant that passengers and mails had to be transferred to Pan American Airways and Canadian Pacific Air lines. However, these lines did not have to run any extra services dur ing the 9 days.
On the Kangaroo Route, BOAC and KLM seemed able to cope with the situation.
On the Wallaby Route to Johannesburg one flight came into the strike period, but was made up later.
The parties finally came together in conference before Commonwealth Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. J. H.
Portus on April 20. They agreed that the question of pilots’ salaries, the cause of the dispute, would be re ferred to Mr. Portus for decision, and that all air-crew members (about 200), dismissed during the strike be reinstated as from mid night that day.
The pilots went on strike when Qantas refused to pay salary in creases the pilots sought. The pilots demanded increases ranging from £747 a year for first officers, to £1,840 for senior check captains on main trunk routes.
They claimed that these increases would have brought their salaries into line with those paid by British Overseas Airways Corporation.
During the 11-days strike, as they refused duty, pilots and air-crew were dismissed by Qantas. About nine pilots remained loyal to the company.
Salaries and conditions of the Qantas pilots stem from an award made by the old Arbitration Court in 1954. Since then Qantas has twice increased its pilots’ pay and allowances. If pilots had accepted offers made by Qantas just before the strike the total increases since 1954 would have been £9OO for a senior captain. if Mrs. K. Thomas, wife of Mr.
Gordon Thomas (both well-known ex-Territorians) has just spent five weeks in Camden (NSW> Hospital, but is now back at her home in Cambelltown, making a good re covery.