Staff deserve better? Absolutely.

Date: 26 June 2001

Flight West employees deserve better than the temporary arrangements announced this morning by Ansett, according to the Australian Services Union.

ASU Branch Secretary Julie Bignell said Ansett's initial takeover of some regional routes for only 90 days left Flight West workers and regional Queenslanders with continued uncertainty.

"Do Flight West staff and regional Queenslanders deserve better than this deal? Absolutely," said Ms Bignell.

"It's unfortunate that there's no ongoing security for Flight West workers and disappointing that Ansett have not delivered a longer-term commitment to regional Queensland," she said.

"Given that Flight West staff are paid significantly less than Ansett staff, this seems to be a cheap way for Ansett to expand using contractors," she said.

"Ansett should do the right thing and pay these people the same wage that the Ansett employees they will be working side-by-side with are getting," she said.

Ms Bignell also said the union continued to have "grave concerns" relating to whether Flight West staff were being paid the legal minimum to which they are entitled.

"We have made numerous requests to Flight West seeking copies of their pay records, but despite assurances we would have them last week they have not been provided to us yet," Ms Bignell said.

"I have written to the Industrial Relations Minister asking him to take immediate steps to verify the integrity of Flight West's employment records," 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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