Ansett rally in Brisbane

Date: 13 September 2001

The Australian Services Union has called on employers in Brisbane's central business district to support tomorrow's community rally for Ansett workers.

ASU Branch Secretary Julie Bignell said tomorrow's lunchtime rally was an opportune time for the community to come together and lend support to the 16,000 Ansett workers and their families.

"The rally will be calling on the federal government to save the 16,000 Ansett jobs, protect the tens of thousands of other jobs at risk from an Ansett collapse and to ensure the security of worker's entitlements," Ms Bignell said.

"Employers in the Brisbane CBD can support the rally and the campaign to keep Ansett flying by releasing their staff to attend," she said.

"There is an immense amount of community support for the plight of these workers, and a clear view that the federal government needs to do more," she said.

"Nearly two years ago the federal government allowed the sale of Ansett despite warnings at the time that Air New Zealand lacked sufficient capital," she said.

"Mr Howard promised no jobs would be lost as a result of the sale, but now Ansett is on the brink of collapse because the government failed to seek any real commitments from Air New Zealand," she said.

"The government cannot sit on their hands when thousands of jobs are at risk because of a situation they helped create," she said.

The Save Ansett Jobs community rallies are occurring tomorrow at 12:30pm in King George Square (Brisbane), Martin Place Amphitheatre (Sydney) and State Library Lawns (Melbourne)

For further information

Contact:	Matthew Collins
Union:	ASU Services
Contact Mobile:	0405 188 256
Email:	info@qld.asu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.qld.asu.asn.au

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]