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Issue No. 148 | 16 August 2002 |
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Peak Performance
Interview: Labor Law Unions: Critical Conditions Bad Boss: Shifting The Load History: Peeking Out Safety: Flying High Corporate: Salaries High, Performance Low International: War on the US Wharves Review: And the Signs Said... Poetry: Tony Don't Preach Satire: Latham Dumps Rodney Rude as Speech Writer
Politics The Soapbox The Locker Room Bosswatch Human Rights
 Miranda's Not Fair on OutworkersAnother Capitalist Party?Justice For All?Kill the Photos!Right Wing Lackies
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News Qantas Dressed Down Over Uniform Backflip
Awarding its uniforms supply tender to Victoria�s Dowd Group, it is understood the company won the tender on the basis that clothing products would be imported from overseas. In an earlier letter sent to all suppliers, the airline blamed the Sept 11 tragedy for "contracting international activity" to a degree that it has been forced to focus on "global efficiencies" when considering applications to supply its uniforms. Qantas stated that as a result of the "turmoil" it would be assessing both the domestic and international markets during its review of clothing product supply services. The about-face comes just two years after signing an agreement with the TWU and the TCFUA that committed the airline to ending the exploitation of outworkers involved in the manufacture of its uniforms. At the time unions were heartened by QANTAS' apparent commitment to fighting against the exploitation of the nation's clothing workers. The mood has now changed to disgust at the airline's continued insistence for marketing purposes that it "still calls Australia home" while it is busy siphoning away Aussie jobs. "It seems that QANTAS is reportedly willing to spend six million dollars on advertising to 'Still Call Australia Home' - but somehow this same massive corporation cannot find the money to support Australian clothing workers whose families fly on QANTAS and promote its image," according to TCFUA state secretary Barry Tubner. Even worse, the airline has tried to distract attention from its "venal corporate self-interest, which motivates this new clothing supply policy, by wrapping its policy in the mantle of the Sept 11 tragedy", he says. More Strike Action Meanwhile, nearly 6,000 Qantas staff will stage a nationwide strike for 24 hours on Monday 19 August 2002 to support their claim for job security at the airline, according to the Australian Services Union. The strike will involve staff in check-in and telephone sales, freight, information technology, load control, catering, operations, administration and finance, engineering and maintenance, Qantas Holidays and Business Travel. ASU Assistant National Secretary Linda White says job security has emerged as a key sticking point in negotiations with Qantas for a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. "Qantas is posting record profits, but won't guarantee job security," Ms White says. "In fact, Qantas want their employees to compete for their own jobs every five years in a bizarre process of competitive tendering. "No job will be safe as workers race to the bottom to keep their jobs." White says Qantas workers had proven their commitment to the airline last year by freezing wages to maintain profitability in the wake of the September 11 induced downturn. She said it was galling that Qantas now refused to reciprocate this commitment by providing job security to staff. Qantas posted a $597 million profit in 2000/01, and is expected to post a profit next week of around $630 million for the financial year 2001/02.
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