Jobs go as another airline collapses

Date: 19 June 2001

The Australian Services Union has called on the Queensland government to provide urgent assistance for Flight West workers and regional Queenslanders - both left stranded following the failure of the regional airline.

ASU Branch Secretary Julie Bignell said the collapse of Flight West was disappointing, particularly given the millions of dollars in Queensland government subsidies the airline received.

"The collapse of Flight West has reportedly left 450 workers stranded without a job, and countless regional Queenslanders stranded without an airline," Ms Bignell said.

"Given the millions of dollars in subsidies the Queensland government has poured into Flight West for servicing regional areas, they should act quickly to ensure this service gap is filled by another airline," she said.

"Most importantly, the Queensland government should be negotiating with interested airlines to ensure Flight West workers have jobs with whatever carrier takes over the regional routes," she said.

"In the short term the government should immediately act to provide assistance to affected workers," she said.

Ms Bignell also said she continued to have some concerns in relation to the security of worker's legal entitlements.

"The liquidators have publicly said workers' entitlements are secure, but I would like to see written guarantees to this effect," she said.

"Australia's corporate history is littered with companies that have said 'entitlements are secure' only to have workers miss out in the wash up," she said.

"Flight West must also give assurances that workers have been paid correctly to date," she said.

For further information

Contact:	Matthew Collins
Union:	ASU Services
Contact Mobile:	0404 058 108
Email:	communications@qld.asu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.qld.asu.asn.au

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