Ansett staff continue campaign

Date: 16 September 2001

Ansett staff have inundated the offices of the Australian Services Union today as they continue their campaign for justice following the airline's collapse.

ASU Branch Secretary Julie Bignell said hundreds of Ansett staff had gathered at their union's office to discuss their campaign for justice and to complete creditors' forms prior to Tuesday's meeting of creditors.

"Since opening our doors this morning we have been inundated with Ansett workers signing the appropriate forms to guarantee they have a say when the creditors meet on Tuesday," Ms Bignell said.

"These workers are feeling anxious and angry - anxious about the security of their entitlements and angry that they've been let down by the federal government and Air New Zealand," she said.

"Some workers are planning to protest today at the airport to express their anger at the shoddy treatment they have received," she said.

Ms Bignell said staff had poured into ASU offices around the nation to sign proxy forms that would allow union officials to represent the Ansett workforce when creditors meet in Melbourne on Tuesday morning.

"It is regrettable that the administrators have provided such little notice for workers to make the appropriate arrangements to allow their voice to be heard," Ms Bignell said.

"Ansett's administrators have informed unions they have until tomorrow afternoon to submit the forms that would allow Ansett's 17,000 workers to have full representation, which is obviously a tight deadline to meet," she said.

A group of Ansett workers will protest today at Brisbane's domestic terminal (outside Ansett check-in) at 2:00pm

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