ID :
208302
Tue, 09/20/2011 - 13:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/208302
The shortlink copeid
Qantas faces more industrial action: union
SYDNEY (AAP) - 20.09.2011- Qantas will face further industrial action if negotiations between the airline and staff remain stalled, unions say.
In the latest round of action to hit the industrially beleaguered airline, more than 3700 baggage handlers, caterers and other ground staff stopped work for four hours across Australia on Tuesday.
More than 6000 passengers were affected after Qantas was forced to cancel 28 domestic flights and make 53 scheduled changes.
All flights had returned to normal by 4pm (AEST).
A further 200 staff responsible for duties such as signing off on fuel and supplying aircraft with food had also planned to take part in a partial work ban but chose not to participate after Qantas on Monday sent them letters saying they would not be paid if they did.
The move angered Transport Workers Union national secretary Tony Sheldon, who accused the airline of "sending around thugs" in the middle of the night to intimidate staff.
"The Fair Work Ombudsman needs to investigate families having their doors bashed on at 12 o'clock at night," Mr Sheldon told reporters on Tuesday.
Qantas denied allegations of thuggery.
"These claims are incorrect. The fact is we had a legal obligation to advise in writing how we intend to respond to the TWU bans," Qantas spokesman Luke Enright said in a statement.
"We issued these letters to employees during the day while they were working and for those that were not at work we sent these to their homes."
After a day of industrial action Mr Sheldon said he did not feel any closer to a conclusion and that further industrial action would be taken if necessary.
"Qantas is determined to continue to stonewall its workforce by not making any meaningful offers and the workforce is determined to reach an agreement that brings safety and security to their families."
It is the latest in a string of disputes over pay and job security that the airline faces from various unions.
Members of the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association have been staging one-hour scheduled stoppages across the nation for almost a month.
One of a scheduled series of one-hour stoppages around the country will take place at the Sydney domestic terminal on Tuesday from the start of the night shift. Passengers are unlikely to be affected.
On Friday, up to 400 members working in high-maintenance facilities for Qantas will stop work for the day.
The union's industrial actions are sanctioned until mid-December but federal secretary Steve Purvinas told AAP that he did not think that would signal "the end of it".
Meanwhile, the Australian International Pilots Association are using two of eight protected industrial actions open to them.
This includes inflight announcements, and pilots donning ties that read "Qantas flight, Qantas pilot".
"Although we are not co-ordinating action with other Qantas unions, we are certainly keeping the lines of communication open because our struggles, while individual, have much in common," association president Barry Jackson said in a statement on Tuesday.
All three unions are involved in negotiations for new enterprise bargaining agreements.
Further discussions between the TWU and Qantas are scheduled for Wednesday and next week.
In the latest round of action to hit the industrially beleaguered airline, more than 3700 baggage handlers, caterers and other ground staff stopped work for four hours across Australia on Tuesday.
More than 6000 passengers were affected after Qantas was forced to cancel 28 domestic flights and make 53 scheduled changes.
All flights had returned to normal by 4pm (AEST).
A further 200 staff responsible for duties such as signing off on fuel and supplying aircraft with food had also planned to take part in a partial work ban but chose not to participate after Qantas on Monday sent them letters saying they would not be paid if they did.
The move angered Transport Workers Union national secretary Tony Sheldon, who accused the airline of "sending around thugs" in the middle of the night to intimidate staff.
"The Fair Work Ombudsman needs to investigate families having their doors bashed on at 12 o'clock at night," Mr Sheldon told reporters on Tuesday.
Qantas denied allegations of thuggery.
"These claims are incorrect. The fact is we had a legal obligation to advise in writing how we intend to respond to the TWU bans," Qantas spokesman Luke Enright said in a statement.
"We issued these letters to employees during the day while they were working and for those that were not at work we sent these to their homes."
After a day of industrial action Mr Sheldon said he did not feel any closer to a conclusion and that further industrial action would be taken if necessary.
"Qantas is determined to continue to stonewall its workforce by not making any meaningful offers and the workforce is determined to reach an agreement that brings safety and security to their families."
It is the latest in a string of disputes over pay and job security that the airline faces from various unions.
Members of the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association have been staging one-hour scheduled stoppages across the nation for almost a month.
One of a scheduled series of one-hour stoppages around the country will take place at the Sydney domestic terminal on Tuesday from the start of the night shift. Passengers are unlikely to be affected.
On Friday, up to 400 members working in high-maintenance facilities for Qantas will stop work for the day.
The union's industrial actions are sanctioned until mid-December but federal secretary Steve Purvinas told AAP that he did not think that would signal "the end of it".
Meanwhile, the Australian International Pilots Association are using two of eight protected industrial actions open to them.
This includes inflight announcements, and pilots donning ties that read "Qantas flight, Qantas pilot".
"Although we are not co-ordinating action with other Qantas unions, we are certainly keeping the lines of communication open because our struggles, while individual, have much in common," association president Barry Jackson said in a statement on Tuesday.
All three unions are involved in negotiations for new enterprise bargaining agreements.
Further discussions between the TWU and Qantas are scheduled for Wednesday and next week.
