From Transport Workers Union
Qantas sells out Australian workforce: 20% less or no job
By Wayne Forno
27 Oct, 2011
27 Oct, 2011
1000 Qantas workers across NSW will join 3800 throughout Australia to stop work tomorrow from 8-9am for a report back meeting: following Qantas’ shock revelation that they will never again employ permanent Australian workers on union rates of pay.
“Qantas management is giving our national icon a lethal injection and hoping it will die a slow and quiet death: destroying their Australian union workforce and filling vacancies with outside workers paid 20% less,” TWU State Secretary Wayne Forno said.
“The TWU will not let that happen: for the sake of our members and all Australian workers whose employers will happily follow suit if Alan Joyce and his overpaid corporate executives get away with this.
“All Australians feel the loss of the Qantas they grew up with, set to be firebombed and sold out overseas by Mr Joyce and his corporate thugs. Qantas management know this which is why they are beefing up security for their AGM tomorrow to keep the public out.
“We apologise to passengers who are delayed and appeal to people to support our members and join our campaign: this is a fight for the working conditions of all Australians.”
The TWU announced continuing strike action after Qantas refused to negotiate on the job security of its Australian workforce yesterday. Qantas management refused to limit outside hire and outsourcing in their enterprise agreement; and dug the boot in by announcing they would employ no more direct employees at the union rate of pay.
This news follows:
• The sacking of 1000 Australian Qantas workers and the ‘diversification’ of the business into Asia
• Qantas recording $530 million in profit last year, with corporate executives receiving a 71% pay rise, while a baggage handler earns around $35,000 per year and Qantas refuses to guarantee their job security
• The release of a National Essential Report poll which shows that:
“The TWU will not let that happen: for the sake of our members and all Australian workers whose employers will happily follow suit if Alan Joyce and his overpaid corporate executives get away with this.
“All Australians feel the loss of the Qantas they grew up with, set to be firebombed and sold out overseas by Mr Joyce and his corporate thugs. Qantas management know this which is why they are beefing up security for their AGM tomorrow to keep the public out.
“We apologise to passengers who are delayed and appeal to people to support our members and join our campaign: this is a fight for the working conditions of all Australians.”
The TWU announced continuing strike action after Qantas refused to negotiate on the job security of its Australian workforce yesterday. Qantas management refused to limit outside hire and outsourcing in their enterprise agreement; and dug the boot in by announcing they would employ no more direct employees at the union rate of pay.
This news follows:
• The sacking of 1000 Australian Qantas workers and the ‘diversification’ of the business into Asia
• Qantas recording $530 million in profit last year, with corporate executives receiving a 71% pay rise, while a baggage handler earns around $35,000 per year and Qantas refuses to guarantee their job security
• The release of a National Essential Report poll which shows that:
- 88% believe Qantas should keep jobs in Australia (vs 7% who disagreed)
- Support for Qantas workers, with 67% agreeing the workers have legitimate concerns
- more than 70% saying Qantas CEO Alan Joyce is overpaid, compared with just 7% who disagreed.
© Copyright 2012 by Transport Workers Union