Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Howard government caves into Qantas selloff pressure

Unions and shareholders are worried the debt-based takeover consortium could renege on its promises and send jobs overseas.

Doug Cameron from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) says the Qantas takeover is a "crook agreement" that does nothing for Australian workers.

"It is simply about political spin, to give the impression that the Howard Government is doing something about jobs and employment," he said.

"In fact they are doing nothing, the document delivers nothing and it is a complete nonsense to try and argue that this document does anything to support families and the community that depends on the income from Qantas workers' jobs."

The Shareholders Association chairman, Stephen Matthews, says the Federal Government could exercise its ultimate power over Qantas.

"We all know that Singapore Airlines is very interested in the Australia-West Coast USA route that is said to be very profitable for Qantas and the Government controls who comes in and who flies those sorts of routes," he said.

"If Qantas don't play their part, there's always that hanging over their head."

Polling of voters in Coalition-held marginal seats released last month shows strong public opposition to the proposed sale of Qantas to local and foreign private equity interests.

The polling shows that high levels of community concern over the impact of the sale on Australian jobs, rural and regional airline services and safety standards mean that 79% of voters say they oppose the sale of Qantas.

Commenting on the polling ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said: "The Australian community are extremely concerned about the impact of the proposed sale of Qantas on jobs, services and safety standards.

"They want the Government to stand up for Australian jobs, and apply conditions to any sale of Qantas.

"The Australian public is sick and tired of the Howard Government sitting back and making excuses while more and more Australian jobs and businesses go overseas.

"The Federal Government can and must impose strict and enforceable conditions on the takeover or stop the proposed sale of Qantas. The Government needs to act to prevent aircraft maintenance services jobs going off-shore; protect airline routes and services to regional Australia; and stop customer service jobs in Qantas also being sent overseas.

"All of the national interest issues surrounding the Qantas sale need to be examined by a parliamentary inquiry," said Mr Combet.

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