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Issue No. 167 | 21 February 2003 |
Scales of Injustice
Interview: Agenda 2003 Peace: The Colour Purple Industrial: Long, Hot Summer Solidarity: Workers Against War Security: Howard And The Hoodlums International: Industrial Warfare History: Unions and the Vietnam War Review: Eight Miles to Mowtown Poetry: Return To Sender Satire: CIA Recruits New Intake of Future Enemies
Cole Commission: The Rort Goes On Abbott Brushes Ripped Off Aussies Overworked Seaman�s Painful Hangover Australia Snubs International Body Murdoch Hacks Dropping Like Flies Qantas Takes Big Stick to Cabin Crew Sheltered Workshop in Orange Squeeze Carr Govt Commits $13m To Safety
The Soapbox Postcard The Locker Room Politics
Who Let The Troops Out? Wagga Wagga Calling Ode to Johnny
Labor Council of NSW |
News Qantas Takes Big Stick to Cabin Crew
The dominant player in the Australian airlines market will fast-forward rookies from labour hire outfit Maurice Alexander Management onto international flights this Tuesday to cover for striking FAAA members. It is also relocating non-union, labour hire staff from its Bangkok base. The move came after the company, which rewarded chief executive Geoff Dixon with a million dollar share bonus, refused to deliver on a promised "recognition" clause for increased cabin crew productivity. The "recognition" deal struck in the last negotiations obliged Qantas to reward workers for their agreement to cut crew numbers. Industry observers suggest it has contributed $40 million towards this year's profit. "It is agreed that this contribution will be recognised in the negotiation of EBA 6," the document signed by Qantas and the union reads. FAAA International Division secretary, Johanna Brem, said that when the parties met to negotiate EBA 6 there was no recognition forthcoming. "We now learn, apparently, that recognition for saving them $40 million doesn't mean money," Brem said. "Our members accepted a wage freeze, then raised productivity. We have asked management to recognise our role in the company's performance and they have refused." Australian-based flight attendants will stop work from midnight Monday, until 2pm Tuesday, affecting 30 international flights. Their union has written to the Civil Aviation Transport Authority (CASA) asking it to investigate the propriety rushing newcomers, to be trained this weekend, into key safety roles on international flights.
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