all hail the god - alan joyce, page-27

If you don't like AJ's and the board's pay increase, then you could have voted "no". There were 1.505 billion votes in favour versus 61.88 million votes against. At least his pay was less than Geoff Dixon ($12million) when he led Qantas during the decline.

Lets have a trip down memory lane:
Qantas FY07/08 profit = $969million. Geoff Dixon salary = $12million. AJ salary = $3.7million for Jetstar.

Qantas FY08/09 profit = $117million. Geoff Dixon salary $10.7million then AJ tookover.

Qantas FY09/10 profit = $112million. AJ salary $2.9million (less than he was getting paid at Jetstar and less than Geoff Dixon)

Qantas FY10/11 profit = $250million. AJ salary $5million (still less than Geoff Dixon, but at least AJ has turned the airline around to double its profits)

Qantas FY11/12 profit = we don't know yet, but if the industrial actions were continued, it will keep bleeding Qantas $15million per week. (Surely something has to be done.)

Sure the board's salary package increased and can be questioned, but tell me what it's worth? You take charge of a company that is in decline, that no longer makes as much money as it use to, losing market share and prestige to other companies, what would you have done? What decisions would you make to turn the company around? Let it be? Pray and hope? Wait for pigs to fly?

Some people are rather short sighted and forget the hard work and difficult decisions that have to be made to improve a business. If running a business were so easy, then everyone will be running the show and making their own companies, but sadly it ain't the case in the real world. It takes talent to keep your company afloat as you battle your competitors. There are many companies that fail every year and you should be thankful that Qantas hasn't gone under. Sure you can hire a new board of unknowns who are cheap, but how much can you trust them with $20billion in assets? It very big risk to take. It also takes money to retain the talent within the company as there will be competitors who'll poach your prized staff.

737pipes, if you've run a business before, or even managed projects before, you can't expect many things to happen over night. It can take days, weeks, months and years to get results. Qantas is a large company that was mismanaged during Geoff Dixon's era and it has to take work to turn it around to the good ole years, which is what AJ has to do. Only time will tell whether Qantas recovers, or whether it becomes another Ansett. Lets also remember that AJ used to be from Ansett which was ultimately brought down and destroyed by the unions.

I admit I'm biased against unions as all they've done in my work history is destroy companies and hold them at ransom. Sure they have good intentions of protecting workers, but where do you draw the line? For example, striking over ice cream flavours that the company provides you with?

Db121, I do agree with you that things have gotten ugly over the years in Australia. While you say employers are being unjust, what about the employees? I won't repeat why in my belief the employees don't deserve a pay rise, as it's already mentioned above.

Businesses take all the risk whether they lose money or make money. Same with us shareholders taking our risk in this company. Employees don't have that risk as they will be paid for the job according to their contract.

If some of you reckon you can run the business better, then do so. Act on it and prove your worth. Otherwise, you should start your own business. That will be the day when you learn how difficult and how much there actually is to it. If you can't take the risk, then you go back to work and feel s***ty about your employer. It's a fact of life - whether you're a boss or whether you're a worker. All I can say is good luck.

Anyway, a good CEO and board has a higher chance of making a company good. It will take time to see it, but I do believe AJ can do it as he's actually got balls to do what he did. So far it's worked well. Only time will tell.


p.s. If I were AJ, I'd retire, and sit by the beach in the Bahamas relaxing with a mojito as I watch the calm waves and the pretty girls in bikinis playing the water. *dreams on* Thanks anyway for the compliment.