Thursday, August 20, 2015

TWU demands Qantas provide good quality, permanent jobs

TWU MEDIA RELEASE, 20 August 2015

The Transport Workers’ Union is demanding that Qantas provide good quality, permanent jobs at the airline instead of forcing working families into part-time, casual work which is driving them into poverty.

Qantas’ full-year results show an underlying profit before tax of almost $1billion – a figure which could not have been achieved without the commitment of its workers.

Many employees at the airline are forced onto part-time jobs which do not give them a living wage or the ability to support their families, said Tony Sheldon, National Secretary of Transport Workers’ Union.

“One in five aviation workers are earning below the poverty line and this is because of the poor quality, part time nature of jobs at airlines like Qantas. Our members are forced onto part-time pay but have full-time wages,” Sheldon said.

The Qantas workforce is calling for an end the redundancies and provide job security at the airline. Employees want to be well-trained to deliver quality service to customers. Instead Qantas awards low cost contracts where workers are hired on low pay and conditions.

“Workers have been intrinsic to Qantas’ spectacular return to profit and they should be given the ability to support their families. Qantas needs to improve conditions for all workers at the airline instead of just remunerating its top executives,” Sheldon added.

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