Strike at Qantas over job security

Date: 16 August 2002

Qantas action - August 2

Nearly 6,000 Qantas staff will stage a nationwide strike for 24 hours on Monday 19 August 2002 to support their claim for job security at the airline, according to the Australian Services Union.

ASU Assistant National Secretary Linda White said job security had emerged as a key sticking point in negotiations with Qantas for a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

"Qantas is posting record profits, but won't guarantee job security," Ms White said.

"In fact, Qantas want their employees to compete for their own jobs every five years in a bizarre process of competitive tendering," she said.

"No job will be safe as workers race to the bottom to keep their jobs," she said.

Ms White said Qantas workers had proven their commitment to the airline last year by freezing wages to maintain profitability in the wake of the September 11 induced downturn. She said it was galling that Qantas now refused to reciprocate this commitment by providing job security to staff.

"Workers have shown their commitment to Qantas, so why won't Qantas show its commitment to us?" she said.

"I think it's reasonable to expect job security from a business making almost $2 million a day in profits," she said.

Qantas posted a $597 million profit in 2000/01, and is expected to post a profit next week of around $630 million for the financial year 2001/02.

Ms White said the strike would involve staff in check-in and telephone sales, freight, information technology, load control, catering, operations, administration and finance, engineering and maintenance, Qantas Holidays and Business Travel. She said flight delays would be expected, however customers should have their flights changed by Qantas so as to minimise inconvenience.

"It is regrettable that some delays will occur, but the ball is very firmly in Qantas' court. This could have been avoided if Qantas was prepared to offer job security commitments," Ms White said.

"Qantas has simply refused to budge from its hardline position that workers cannot have any job security," she said.

"Our members will be working to contact customers over the weekend to help make arrangements to minimise any inconvenience," she said.

Ms White said ASU representatives had met with Qantas management on August 8 and August 13 to continue negotiations following a twelve hour stoppage on Friday, August 2.

For further information

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

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