Compulsory use of STA Travel

From macbeth@central.murdoch.edu.au Tue Aug 6 08:39:12 2002 From: macbeth@central.murdoch.edu.au (Jim Macbeth) Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 16:39:12 +0800 Subject: [Muanet] Compulsory use of STA Travel Message-ID: --============_-1183433102==_ma============ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Dear Susan, Further to our phone discussion some weeks ago, here are my comments on STA itself and on the requirement to use one particular travel agent. Our conversation arose because of my being informed that I must book Murdoch paid/reimbursed travel through STA Travel in order to be covered by insurance. June this year was the first time I used STA and I was not impressed we made bookings on a Friday afternoon and the flights were 'lost' because STA payments are made from the eastern states and they were already closed. This caused anxiety and inconvenience and the need to rebook the flights on Monday. Our frequent flyer numbers did not get registered, which will cause further inconvenience later when we have to apply to get the flight credited. It took me an email and then a personal visit to get a receipt in order to make a travel claim. I asked for information to do with a future journey and 2 months later have not received any information. I have occasion to work with an expert in the travel agency business and on discussing this with him he said that STA is a budget flyer travel agency and does not know how to deal with the corporate market. He as much as said don't use them, especially when compared to agencies such as Tertiary Travel (whom I've used with no trouble over the years). This notion that we must book using a travel agent when on Murdoch business is a problem when in many cases the easiest thing is for me to book online or on the telephone; the latter I've been finding most satisfactory for most of my travel over the past 10 years. Could I please ask that the appropriate person inform me of the following: which aspects of insurance are effected by this ruling and which aspects are not (eg Workers Comp; laptop insurance; medical)? on what legal basis can Murdoch deny us insurance when travelling on Murdoch business? in which situations are we still permitted to book our own travel? How does this effect travel by train, bus, boat or car (including hire cars)? If we are forced to use a designated travel agent, can we assume that the university will make up the difference in funds to the School/research budget if we could have otherwise taken a cheaper flight of similar class? Can we also assume that travel booked and paid for by other agencies is still covered by insurance? thanks for your help, Jim -- ***** Jim Macbeth, PhD Phone (61) (8) 9360 7005 Chair, Tourism Program Fax (61) (8) 9360 7091 School of Social Inquiry Murdoch University Rockingham Campus, Dixon Rd Rockingham, Western Australia 6168 Member, Murdoch University Senate http://tourism.murdoch.edu.au Tourism at Murdoch will be available at the main campus from 2003! --============_-1183433102==_ma============ Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Compulsory use of STA Travel

Dear Susan,

Further to our phone discussion some weeks ago, here are my comments on STA itself and on the requirement to use one particular travel agent. Our conversation arose because of my being informed that I must book Murdoch paid/reimbursed travel through STA Travel in order to be covered by insurance.

June this year was the first time I used STA and I was not impressed

we made bookings on a Friday afternoon and the flights were 'lost' because STA payments are made from the eastern states and they were already closed. This caused anxiety and inconvenience and the need to rebook the flights on Monday.
Our frequent flyer numbers did not get registered, which will cause further inconvenience later when we have to apply to get the flight credited.
It took me an email and then a personal visit to get a receipt in order to make a travel claim.
I asked for information to do with a future journey and 2 months later have not received any information.

I have occasion to work with an expert in the travel agency business and on discussing this with him he said that STA is a budget flyer travel agency and does not know how to deal with the corporate market. He as much as said don't use them, especially when compared to agencies such as Tertiary Travel (whom I've used with no trouble over the years).

This notion that we must book using a travel agent when on Murdoch business is a problem when in many cases the easiest thing is for me to book online or on the telephone; the latter I've been finding most satisfactory for most of my travel over the past 10 years.

Could I please ask that the appropriate person inform me of the following:

which aspects of insurance are effected by this ruling and which aspects are not (eg Workers Comp; laptop insurance; medical)?
on what legal basis can Murdoch deny us insurance when travelling on Murdoch business?
in which situations are we still permitted to book our own travel?
How does this effect travel by train, bus, boat or car (including hire cars)?
If we are forced to use a designated travel agent, can we assume that the university will make up the difference in funds to the School/research budget if we could have otherwise taken a cheaper flight of similar class?
Can we also assume that travel booked and paid for by other agencies is still covered by insurance?

thanks for your help,

Jim

--

        *****
Jim Macbeth, PhD                                Phone (61) (8) 9360 7005
Chair, Tourism Program

                Fax   (61) (8) 9360 7091
School of Social Inquiry
Murdoch University
Rockingham Campus, Dixon Rd

Rockingham, Western Australia 6168
Member, Murdoch University Senate

<J.Macbeth@murdoch.edu.au>

http://tourism.murdoch.edu.au

Tourism at Murdoch will be available at the main campus from 2003!

--============_-1183433102==_ma============-- From pbowden@central.murdoch.edu.au Mon Aug 12 08:48:31 2002 From: pbowden@central.murdoch.edu.au (peta bowden) Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 16:48:31 +0800 Subject: [Muanet] Fwd: The Outsourcing of Walter's Cafe Message-ID: Apologies for any cross posting... >Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 12:35:42 +0800 >To: ssheacad, sshegen, sshe-postgrads@socs.murdoch.edu.au >From: Alisha Ryans-Taylor >Subject: The Outsourcing of Walter's Cafe >Status: > >Hi there, > >I am seeking support for the Guild's resistance to Walter's Cafe being >involved in the university catering tendering process as a result of the >end of Eurest's contract. > >Walter's Cafe has been included without Guild, staff or student >consultation and should not be included for the following reasons: > >1. We were NOT consulted. The Guild General Manager and I were informed a >few weeks ago that Walter's had been included in the initial documents as >it was included in the catering survey with everyone else, (for which we >are thankful for the feedback and have responded accordingly). However, the >inclusion of Walter's Café in the full tendering process came as a shock. > >2. It has been put to the Guild that ALL campus catering is under review. >Well the Asian Food Van isn't; they were involved in the campus survey >along with us but do not have the potential of losing their catering outlet >in this process. It is only the Eurest outlets that should be part of the >tendering process. > >3. The Guild needs the income. Walter's Café is cashflow positive and with >a longer term lease, has the potential to be much more profitable for the >Guild. Why does the university want to remove income sources from the Guild >and give them to an external body? > >4. The Guild is losing staff due to this process. If Walter's Café is taken >over by an external body, three of our longest serving staff will require >redundancy payouts to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. The Guild >cannot afford this cost, not to mention the loss of such loyal and skilled >staff. Even with the tendering process alone we have lost key casual staff >already, (believing that they were going to lose their jobs) to restaurants >in Fremantle. Our other casual staff are seeking other employment and we >now don't have enough staff to operate Walter's Café in peak times, (we are >unable to fill the roster for next week). It has also caused considerable >anxiety amongst Guild staff at our other outlets, as they speculate whether >their area is the next to be picked off. > >5. No one else has been consulted on the matter; staff, students, the >library who were involved in our original contractual arrangements, no one >was asked what the impact of this decision would be. > >6. The Guild will lose a key profile raising venue and site for >distributing material about the other services that the Guild offers and >clubs and societies will lose the ability to advertise through the café. > >7. Students will lose their discount that they receive at Walter's Café as >Guild members - a key recruiting tool for the Guild. > >8. Our supply deals will fall apart. Without Walter's we will not be able >to service the Tavern, Sport and Recreation Centre and front office with >products at the same rate, including coffee. > >9. We will no longer be able to self-cater our functions so the income from >functions will be heavily diminished with increased supplier costs. > >10. Fewer people will join the Guild, (especially staff members who join >for their discounts on Walter's food and coffee). > >11. Our staff are now pushed to the emotional limit. The human cost of >this move has not being considered. Some staff at Walter's have been with >the Guild for over seven years and sudden talks of redundancy has caused a >lot of stress for our permanent employees. > >12. The Guild wishes to invest further in Walter's Cafe, (add a kitchen, a >mezzanine floor, etc) but hasn't so far due to one year lease agreements. >The Guild wishes to gain a longer term lease so that we can invest further >in providing a better service. > >What will the university lose? > >1. The Guild's trust for one. I cannot believe that this can occur under a >'spirit of co-operation' that we have been trying to develop over the last >nine months. > >2. The university will need to further subsidise the Guild to not only meet >the immediate costs, (staff entitlements) but also for the ongoing losses >from not having Walter's Café and membership income. > >3. Reputation. Students will no doubt protest at the loss of their jobs and >the loss of a student-run service and this will reflect badly on the >university to the tendering companies and the community, especially at a >key time for student recruitment. > >If you support Guild control of Walter's Cafe I strongly urge you to write >an e-mail to guildpre@central.murdoch.edu.au so that it can be forwarded on >to the VC. Please also forward this e-mail to any lists you are involved >with as I doubt that a request for this to be sent via mailbomb would be >granted. > >Thankyou for taking the time to read this plea. > >Highest regards, > >Alisha Ryans-Taylor > >-------------------------------- >Alisha Ryans-Taylor >Guild President, 2002 >Murdoch University Student Guild >-------------------------------- From J.Macbeth@murdoch.edu.au Thu Aug 15 01:53:20 2002 From: J.Macbeth@murdoch.edu.au (Jim Macbeth) Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 09:53:20 +0800 Subject: [Muanet] Fwd: RE: Compulsory use of STA Travel Message-ID: --============_-1182745618==_ma============ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" I have been having ongoing discussions with the university on these matters and here is the latest answer from Tom Milliken, partly in response to my original email and partly in response to issues I raised with him when he responded to my original email. My response to him and his reply will be posted when it comes back. cheers, Jim ps STA got my original email and have been running around trying to justify their service and competence. j >From: Tom Milliken >To: "'Jim Macbeth'" >Cc: Lee Maxfield >Subject: RE: Compulsory use of STA Travel >Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 18:22:45 +0800 >Status: > >Dear Jim > >The Offices of Financial Services & Facilities Management are >currently preparing a document on both travel and insurance issues >which will be released by 'mail-bomb'. However, in the meantime I >trust the following will answer your questions. > >1. which aspects of insurance are effected by this ruling and which >aspects are not (eg Workers Comp; laptop insurance; medical)? > >Workers Comp is not affected by the policy. > > > >The above links to the university travel insurance policy and exclusions. > >2. on what legal basis can Murdoch deny us insurance when travelling >on Murdoch business? > >My understanding is that Murdoch is providing both insurance >together with an approved Travel Service Provider. However, as you >have requested a legal opinion, I must refer you to a person/dept >appropriately qualified. > >3. in which situations are we still permitted to book our own travel? > >Obviously, personal travel, paid for personally can be booked by the >individual. > >In other cases, if your written itinerary is forwarded to STA to >price match (itineraries for international travel are automatically >sent for independent audit) and your quotation remains cheaper then >consideration will be given to your selection of travel provider. I >feel that the chance of this occurring are slim. > >I am advised that each such case will be assessed and the Office of >Financial Services should be contacted. > >4. How does this effect travel by train, bus, boat or car (including >hire cars)? > >Where the traveller is entitled to the use of MU insurance, the >traveller is covered as a passenger for all transport if part of the >itinerary. Hire Cars have exclusions - pse refer section 8 at the >above link. > >5. If we are forced to use a designated travel agent, can we assume >that the university will make up the difference in funds to the >School/research budget if we could have otherwise taken a cheaper >flight of similar class? > >No. This should not arise. Pse refer to section 3 above. > >6. Can we also assume that travel booked and paid for by other >agencies is still covered by insurance? > >I assume you are referring to conference travel, or similar. > >Conference travel, where payment is made at source and travel >documents issued at source, is usually covered by MU unless already >covered by the conference organisers. > >Jim, I hope the above answers your questions. In view of the changes >we have instigated and the very considerable amount of work we have >put into 'travel' generally, I hope you will at least give STA the >opportunity to meet your requirements. The customer service has >improved considerably and price should no longer remain an issue. > >Did Susan respond to the first part of your email. If not, I would >be happy to advise of the changes made at STA; the NUTC agreement >whereby, although a 'monopoly', STA are obligated to provide the >"best fare of the day" which is generally at a discount as well. If >they don't compete, I really need to know. > >Thanks for your feedback. If I can be of assistance with travel >issues please do not hesitate to contact me. > >Regards, > >Tom > >-----Original Message----- >From: Jim Macbeth [mailto:J.Macbeth@murdoch.edu.au] >Sent: Monday, 12 August 2002 2:07 PM >To: Tom Milliken >Subject: Fwd: Compulsory use of STA Travel > >Dear Tom, > >Below is a copy of the email I sent to Susan and posted on the Muasa >net. From that I have had considerable response from staff here and >at UWA unhappy with STA as a travel agent, both specific problems >and general concern. I have copied to you STA's response in a >separate email. I don't know how they got my email as Susan did not >send it to them and neither did I. > >You would be aware that part of my concern and that of other staff >who have contacted me is the monopoly power thus enjoyed by STA if >we are required to use STA for any travel involving our employment >and the simple inconvenience of being required to use a travel agent >at all. Part of the issue is quite simple: most of the travel I do >as an academic is either > >not fully paid for by Murdoch funds allocated for that travel (eg >OSP and conference travel allowances seldom over the cost of travel; >my last conference cost $2000 of which the Uni gave me $1000) >paid for out of earned income from research and consultancy work >that is now in Murdoch accounts but was not money given for that >purpose by Murdoch but by other agencies. Is this 'official' >travel, or Murdoch 'business'? > >The dot point questions at the end of my email to Susan have not as >yet been answered by her or anyone else. Do you have those answers? > >Regards, Jim > >>Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 16:39:12 +0800 >>To: s.laughton@murdoch.edu.au >>From: Jim Macbeth >>Subject: Compulsory use of STA Travel >>Status: RO >> >Dear Susan, > > >Further to our phone discussion some weeks ago, here are my comments >on STA itself and on the requirement to use one particular travel >agent. Our conversation arose because of my being informed that I >must book Murdoch paid/reimbursed travel through STA Travel in order >to be covered by insurance. > > >June this year was the first time I used STA and I was not impressed > >we made bookings on a Friday afternoon and the flights were 'lost' >because STA payments are made from the eastern states and they were >already closed. This caused anxiety and inconvenience and the need >to rebook the flights on Monday. >Our frequent flyer numbers did not get registered, which will cause >further inconvenience later when we have to apply to get the flight >credited. >It took me an email and then a personal visit to get a receipt in >order to make a travel claim. >I asked for information to do with a future journey and 2 months >later have not received any information. > >I have occasion to work with an expert in the travel agency business >and on discussing this with him he said that STA is a budget flyer >travel agency and does not know how to deal with the corporate >market. He as much as said don't use them, especially when compared >to agencies such as Tertiary Travel (whom I've used with no trouble >over the years). > > >This notion that we must book using a travel agent when on Murdoch >business is a problem when in many cases the easiest thing is for me >to book online or on the telephone; the latter I've been finding >most satisfactory for most of my travel over the past 10 years. > > > > >Could I please ask that the appropriate person inform me of the following: > > >which aspects of insurance are effected by this ruling and which >aspects are not (eg Workers Comp; laptop insurance; medical)? >on what legal basis can Murdoch deny us insurance when travelling on >Murdoch business? >in which situations are we still permitted to book our own travel? >How does this effect travel by train, bus, boat or car (including hire cars)? >If we are forced to use a designated travel agent, can we assume >that the university will make up the difference in funds to the >School/research budget if we could have otherwise taken a cheaper >flight of similar class? >Can we also assume that travel booked and paid for by other agencies >is still covered by insurance? > > >thanks for your help, > > >Jim > >-- > > > ***** >Jim Macbeth, PhD Phone (61) (8) 9360 7005 > >Chair, Tourism Program Fax (61) (8) 9360 7091 >School of Social Inquiry >Murdoch University >Rockingham Campus, Dixon Rd >Rockingham, Western Australia 6168 >Member, Murdoch University Senate > > http://tourism.murdoch.edu.au > >Tourism at Murdoch will be available at the main campus from 2003! -- ______________________________________________________________________ Jim Macbeth, Phd Phone (61-8) 9360 7005 Chair Tourism Program Fax (61-8) 9360 7091 Rockingham Campus Murdoch University Dixon Rd ROCKINGHAM, Western Australia 6168 http://tourism.murdoch.edu.au (08) 9360 7017 (Secretary) Member, Murdoch University Senate Member, Editorial Board of ANATOLIA --============_-1182745618==_ma============ Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Fwd: RE: Compulsory use of STA Travel

I have been having ongoing discussions with the university on these matters and here is the latest answer from Tom Milliken, partly in response to my original email and partly in response to issues I raised with him when he responded to my original email.

My response to him and his reply will be posted when it comes back.

cheers, Jim

ps STA got my original email and have been running around trying to justify their service and competence.

From: Tom Milliken <TMilliken@jupiter.murdoch.edu.au>
To: "'Jim Macbeth'" <J.Macbeth@murdoch.edu.au>
Cc: Lee Maxfield <LMaxfield@jupiter.murdoch.edu.au>
Subject: RE: Compulsory use of STA Travel
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 18:22:45 +0800
Status:

Dear Jim

The Offices of Financial Services & Facilities Management are currently preparing a document on both travel and insurance issues which will be released by 'mail-bomb'. However, in the meantime I trust the following will answer your questions.

1. which aspects of insurance are effected by this ruling and which aspects are not (eg Workers Comp; laptop insurance; medical)?

Workers Comp is not affected by the policy.

<http://www.murdoch.edu.au/finance/admin/polproc/manual/insurance/912.html>

The above links to the university travel insurance policy and exclusions.

2. on what legal basis can Murdoch deny us insurance when travelling on Murdoch business?

My understanding is that Murdoch is providing both insurance together with an approved Travel Service Provider. However, as you have requested a legal opinion, I must refer you to a person/dept appropriately qualified.

3. in which situations are we still permitted to book our own travel?

Obviously, personal travel, paid for personally can be booked by the individual.

In other cases, if your written itinerary is forwarded to STA to price match (itineraries for international travel are automatically sent for independent audit) and your quotation remains cheaper then consideration will be given to your selection of travel provider. I feel that the chance of this occurring are slim.

I am advised that each such case will be assessed and the Office of Financial Services should be contacted.

4. How does this effect travel by train, bus, boat or car (including hire cars)?

Where the traveller is entitled to the use of MU insurance, the traveller is covered as a passenger for all transport if part of the itinerary. Hire Cars have exclusions - pse refer section 8 at the above link.

5. If we are forced to use a designated travel agent, can we assume that the university will make up the difference in funds to the School/research budget if we could have otherwise taken a cheaper flight of similar class?

No. This should not arise. Pse refer to section 3 above.

6. Can we also assume that travel booked and paid for by other agencies is still covered by insurance?

I assume you are referring to conference travel, or similar.

Conference travel, where payment is made at source and travel documents issued at source, is usually covered by MU unless already covered by the conference organisers.

Jim, I hope the above answers your questions. In view of the changes we have instigated and the very considerable amount of work we have put into 'travel' generally, I hope you will at least give STA the opportunity to meet your requirements. The customer service has improved considerably and price should no longer remain an issue.

Did Susan respond to the first part of your email. If not, I would be happy to advise of the changes made at STA; the NUTC agreement whereby, although a 'monopoly', STA are obligated to provide the "best fare of the day" which is generally at a discount as well. If they don't compete, I really need to know.

Thanks for your feedback. If I can be of assistance with travel issues please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Macbeth [mailto:J.Macbeth@murdoch.edu.au]
Sent: Monday, 12 August 2002 2:07 PM

To: Tom Milliken
Subject: Fwd: Compulsory use of STA Travel

Dear Tom,

Below is a copy of the email I sent to Susan and posted on the Muasa net. From that I have had considerable response from staff here and at UWA unhappy with STA as a travel agent, both specific problems and general concern. I have copied to you STA's response in a separate email. I don't know how they got my email as Susan did not send it to them and neither did I.

You would be aware that part of my concern and that of other staff who have contacted me is the monopoly power thus enjoyed by STA if we are required to use STA for any travel involving our employment and the simple inconvenience of being required to use a travel agent at all. Part of the issue is quite simple: most of the travel I do as an academic is either

not fully paid for by Murdoch funds allocated for that travel (eg OSP and conference travel allowances seldom over the cost of travel; my last conference cost $2000 of which the Uni gave me $1000)
paid for out of earned income from research and consultancy work that is now in Murdoch accounts but was not money given for that purpose by Murdoch but by other agencies. Is this 'official' travel, or Murdoch 'business'?

The dot point questions at the end of my email to Susan have not as yet been answered by her or anyone else. Do you have those answers?

Regards, Jim

Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 16:39:12 +0800
To: s.laughton@murdoch.edu.au
From: Jim Macbeth <macbeth@central.murdoch.edu.au>
Subject: Compulsory use of STA Travel
Status: RO

Dear Susan,

Further to our phone discussion some weeks ago, here are my comments on STA itself and on the requirement to use one particular travel agent. Our conversation arose because of my being informed that I must book Murdoch paid/reimbursed travel through STA Travel in order to be covered by insurance.

June this year was the first time I used STA and I was not impressed

we made bookings on a Friday afternoon and the flights were 'lost' because STA payments are made from the eastern states and they were already closed. This caused anxiety and inconvenience and the need to rebook the flights on Monday.
Our frequent flyer numbers did not get registered, which will cause further inconvenience later when we have to apply to get the flight credited.
It took me an email and then a personal visit to get a receipt in order to make a travel claim.
I asked for information to do with a future journey and 2 months later have not received any information.

I have occasion to work with an expert in the travel agency business and on discussing this with him he said that STA is a budget flyer travel agency and does not know how to deal with the corporate market. He as much as said don't use them, especially when compared to agencies such as Tertiary Travel (whom I've used with no trouble over the years).

This notion that we must book using a travel agent when on Murdoch business is a problem when in many cases the easiest thing is for me to book online or on the telephone; the latter I've been finding most satisfactory for most of my travel over the past 10 years.

Could I please ask that the appropriate person inform me of the following:

which aspects of insurance are effected by this ruling and which aspects are not (eg Workers Comp; laptop insurance; medical)?
on what legal basis can Murdoch deny us insurance when travelling on Murdoch business?
in which situations are we still permitted to book our own travel?
How does this effect travel by train, bus, boat or car (including hire cars)?
If we are forced to use a designated travel agent, can we assume that the university will make up the difference in funds to the School/research budget if we could have otherwise taken a cheaper flight of similar class?
Can we also assume that travel booked and paid for by other agencies is still covered by insurance?

thanks for your help,

Jim

--

                                        *****
Jim Macbeth, PhD                                Phone (61) (8) 9360 7005

Chair, Tourism Program                         Fax   (61) (8) 9360 7091
School of Social Inquiry

Murdoch University
Rockingham Campus, Dixon Rd
Rockingham, Western Australia 6168
Member, Murdoch University Senate
                             <J.Macbeth@murdoch.edu.au>
                      http://tourism.murdoch.edu.au

Tourism at Murdoch will be available at the main campus from 2003!

--============_-1182745618==_ma============--