|
Issue No. 254 | 04 March 2005 |
That�s Our Team
Interview: Dot.Com Workplace: Dirt Cheap Industrial: Daddy Doesn�t Live With Us Anymore Economics: Who's Afraid of the BCA? International: From the Wreckage Politics: Infrastructure Blues History: Meat and Three Veg Savings: Super Seduction Politics: Popping the 'E-Word' Poetry: To Know Somebody Review: Off the Rails
Rev Kev: Innocent Shall Be Guilty It�s Official - Taskforce "Hopeless" Hollywood For Tropfest Evictees Experts Back Better Childcare Pay
The Soapbox The Locker Room New Matilda Parliament Postcard
Janet�s Job No Victory Royal Finger Lickers Will $20 Restore Carr? Two Ideas
Labor Council of NSW |
News The Airline That Flew a Kite
Qantas has turned staff insecurity into an artform in an effort to keep a low morale workforce under the thumb, says ASU assistant secretary Linda White. The claim came in response to "another" management plan to axe thousands of jobs, despite the company posting a record $660 million profit last year, and a half year figure to December of $460 million. The management plan dubbed "Simplifying the Business" could lead to Qantas slashing up to 10 percent of its 30,000 workforce But an internal report leaked last week shows staff morale could hardly be eroded by the mooted cuts as it was already at record lows in some divisions. The report found only 22 percent of long haul employees felt "engaged" in the company and it's future, compared to 75 percent at Virgin Blue, Australian Airlines and Hewlett Packard. The morale findings were amongst the lowest ever recorded by international human resources company, Hewitt Associates. Over 8000 staff participated in the six month survey. White, who's 10,500 members work in administration across all divisions of the airline, says staff feel under pressure which creates insecurity, when by any industry indicator they are doing the best in the world. Over the last five years the national carrier has used terrorist attacks, fears over SARS and, more recently, high oil prices and increased competition to keep the pressure on staff. This year Qantas mooted shedding 7000 jobs amongst long haul staff in the middle of EBA negotiations. "Qantas is a lean, mean fighting machine," says White "There is not an area which hasn't been touched in the last three or four years, there is no fat there, Qantas does not even replace people when they are sick." "This happens year after year, it's a way to get people to accept less than what they are worth. "They are crying wolf...after a while it wears a thin."
|
Search All Issues | Latest Issue | Previous Issues | Print Latest Issue |
© 1999-2002 Workers Online |
|