ACTU Media Release Wednesday 21 May 2008
Unions condemn Qantas proposal for a real pay cut as a recipe for lower service & standards for passengers.
Unions representing the aviation industry met today and resolved to condemn Qantas’ current pay offer for maintenance engineers as inadequate and a recipe for lower services and standards at the airline.
The unions also condemned reports that Qantas was planning to use a squad of strike breakers in the dispute.
The Qantas unions resolved to:
1. Support the campaign by the ALAEA for a fair wage outcome for the airline’s maintenance engineers.
2. Call on Qantas to accept that the ALAEA members have rejected the airline’s current pay offer of 3% as inadequate.
3. Reject statements by Qantas management that a pay claim above 3% is excessive.
4. Request the ACTU provide practical assistance to the ALAEA during the dispute.
5. Call on Qantas management to negotiate fairly with the airline’s unions to take account of factors such as:
· Current CPI levels
· Productivity, skills and responsibilities
· Profitability of the airline
· Comparable settlements in other enterprises
ACTU President Ms Sharan Burrow said:
“Qantas is profitable because of the professionalism and commitment of its staff.
“If Qantas management cuts the pay and conditions of its staff then workers are concerned that service and standards at the airline will suffer.
Qantas management is currently offering the airline’s maintenance engineers a pay cut in real terms.
The company is taking a tough line in pay negotiations with its workforce despite expecting a massive 40 per cent increase in profits this year – a record $1.5 billion profit is predicted.
Management of the airline was exposed last week to have engaged a squad of strike-breakers in preparation for a drawn out industrial dispute.
Media contact: Shannon Walker ph 0414 694 476
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