Welcome to US Style IR

Date: 03 June 2001

Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Arch Bevis said today that the revelation that QANTAS is training a secret force of strikebreakers was further proof that the Howard Government is ushering in American style industrial relations to Australia.

Mr Bevis was commenting on news today that QANTAS was training 75 managerial staff in the Philippines, in areas such as baggage handling and ticketing, in the event of industrial action by union members.

"The action by QANTAS management is reminiscent of the training of mercenaries in Dubai by Patrick's immediately before the 1998 waterfront dispute - an activity in which the Howard Government was complicit.

"Earlier this year it was revealed that Mobil Oil was training a replacement workforce in Sydney in case of a dispute at its Adelaide refinery. QANTAS has now adopted these tactics.

"QANTAS are currently involved in pay claim negotiations with the union and this action at this time is extremely provocative and unnecessary. The action by QANTAS management seems to be straight out of the Howard Government book on how to negotiate with your employees.

"Not only have the Howard Government's laws allowed these divisive and aggressive tactics to be used but there has never been one word of criticism about the use of these tactics from John Howard, Peter Reith or Tony Abbott.

"The Howard Government through its legislation and action has effectively encouraged employers to follow these tactics.

"The Howard Government's approach to industrial relations does nothing to help build co-operative and productive workplaces. It is simply hurting workers and companies.

"It's about time we rejected these aggressive American tactics and got some balance and fairness back into the Australian industrial relations system. It's clear from the past five years that we won't get that from John Howard," said Mr Bevis.

For further information

Contact:	David Tansey
Union:	ALP Federal
Phone:	(02) 6277 4518
Contact Mobile:	0416 136 164
Fax:	(02) 6277 8534
Email:	david.tansey@aph.gov.au
WWW:	http://www.alp.org.au

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