Qantas in bar fight with staff
Sat "Weekend Australian"
Qantas in bar fight with staff
By Drew Warne-Smith
February 21, 2004
QANTAS has taken on its flight attendants in a battle to allow business-class passengers to serve themselves alcohol on international flights.
The self-service "business bars" were established on long-haul flights in September 2003.
But the Flight Attendants Association of Australia has said crew have been refusing passengers unsupervised access to the bar amid fears that it will lead to greater intoxication and compromise the safety of the aircraft.
"We're talking about an aircraft, not a football oval," said association assistant secretary Michael Mijatov.
"If passengers serve themselves, they'll congregate around the bar, they can pour doubles and triples, there'll be all sorts of problems."
Self-service would lead to an increase in air rage and accidents resulting in broken glass, Mr Mijatov said. Underage drinking and drink-spiking would also be more likely.
Negotiations between Qantas and the FAAA over the business bar have broken down, prompting the union to issue a directive to its members on Thursday enforcing the practice of no self-service.
In response, Qantas lodged an application yesterday with the Industrial Relations Commission to have it overrule the action.
"Qantas expects us to have a responsible service of alcohol certificate, but this makes a mockery of it," Mr Mijatov said.
A Qantas spokeswoman said the union's actions were unjustified and unreasonable.
Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Virgin Atlantic operated similar business bars, she said.
The case will be heard on Monday.
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