
Issue No 115		12 October 2001

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News

Abbott Flees Ansett Workers

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott today cut short a speaking engagement after being confronted by angry Ansett workers.

Abbott was at Sydney's Darling Harbour presenting the Equal Opportunity for Women in Workforce Agency Business Opportunity Awards when Ansett workers gathered outside.

When the workers began their peaceful protest, calling on Mr Abbott to back a union rescue plan for the airline and protection of their entitlements, the Minister cut short his speech and left.

Ansett worker Elizabeth Krstevska said the group had wanted to speak to the Minister to brief him on their plight.

"When Mr Abbott was confronted by a group of women who wanted their own opportunity to get their jobs back, he turned and ran," Ms Krstevska said.

"We expected more for a man with a reputation as a Tough Guy, instead he acted like a wimp."

Ansett workers are planning to shadow the Howard Government and his ministers throughout the election campaign.

"We feel betrayed by the Prime Minister and we want all Australians to understand the way he has betrayed the Ansett workers," she said.

Howard could sabotage Ansett jobs

Meanwhile, Commonwealth Government documents released by the Federal Court last night show that the Howard Government could sabotage the Ansett Administrators' plans to save thousands of jobs and rebuild a viable business.

ACTU Secretary Greg Combet says a letter dated 7 October to the Administrators from Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson showed the Government was trying to tie the Administrators' hands, thereby driving Ansett towards liquidation.

"John Howard is pretending to help Ansett workers with their employee entitlements, but this letter shows that the Government does not intend to put in any money unless the Administrators first sell Ansett's assets. This threatens the Administrators' rescue plan and 17,000 Ansett jobs.

"To save it from paying a single dollar in employee entitlements, the Government is also demanding that the $150 million agreed to be paid to Ansett from Air New Zealand be frozen. This could sabotage the Administrators' chances of developing a viable airline. At the same time the Government is collecting the $10 ticket tax, which was supposed to fund the employee entitlements", said Mr Combet.

"By attempting to tie the Administrators' hands, the Federal Government is forcing Ansett closer to liquidation, with the loss of 17,000 jobs.

"The Court documents also confirm union concerns that the Federal Government has been on Qantas' side since at least June this year, when the Government blocked Singapore Airlines' investment plans and torpedoed the attempted recapitalisation of Air New Zealand and Ansett.

"John Howard owes it to thousands of Ansett employees and their families around Australia to let the Administrators get on with their job. Mr Howard should withdraw this grab for Ansett's assets and instead do everything he can to save thousands of Australian jobs", Mr Combet said.

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  Issue 115 contents

Interview: Connecting the State
NSW IT minister Kim Yeadon is the man responsible for enabling the people of NSW. Here's how he's doing it.

Workplace: The Enemy Within
In the IT industry it's the recruiters who are earning the workers' ire, as our special correspondent explains.

Unions: From the Virtual Coalface
Computer programmer Vince Caughley argues there is a place for unions in the IT industry.

History: Conditions Precedent
Frank Bongiorno writes that the recent events off the coast of Christmas Island recall a story once told by Paul Hasluck.

International: Victims of Terrorism
Repression against trade unionists on the increase world wide, with 209 trade unionists assassinated last year, reveals ICFTU 2001 Survey.

Campaign Diary: Week One: Get Shorty
Labor's first week of campaigning was as an effort to gain attention from a nation rocked by the telvised war on terrorism.

Economics: Global Alliances
Ray Marcelo reports from India that the ILO is arguing that globalisation needs a worker and employer alliance.

Health: The Phantom Menace
Trade unions made an impact this week at an international congress In Melbourne in the global fight against AIDS.

Review: Rings of Confidence
In his study on the 2000 Olympics, Tony Webb argues that the government and unions reached a new level of cooperation.

Satire: Greens 'Quietly Unconfident' of Forming Government
A leaked memo from a senior member of the Greens reveals the party is unconfident of winning government on November 10.

» Nauru Guards Under-Paid, Untrained

» IT Workers Flock to Join Alliance

» Freeloader Fees Get Green Light

» Stark Differences on Workers Rights

» Disbelief at Royal Commission Directions

» Abbott Flees Ansett Workers

» Union Support for ALP Climate Change Policy

» Nurses Savage Howard's Neglect Of Workforce

» Optus Workers Entitlements Are Safe

» Airports' Security Front Line Deserves Better

» Workers Rally to Stop NDC Cuts

» World Road Unions Unite To Deliver Decent Work

» Aid Groups Back Western Sahara

» Trade Union Assistance for Afghan Refugees

» Activists Notebook