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Qantas staff threaten strike
October 12, 2004 - 4:09PM
A majority of Qantas's international flight attendants do not trust their management and are prepared to strike for better wages and conditions, the Flight Attendants Association of Australia (FAAA) says.
The results of the union's latest Enterprise Bargaining Agreement survey, to which most of the 4,000 members responded, were being compiled.
FAAA divisional secretary of the international division, Michael Mijatov, said 96 per cent of those who took part in the survey had stated they would be prepared to take strike action in December if the upcoming round of EBA negotiations failed.
The current EBA expires on December 17 with negotiations between the union and the company to commence in November.
Mr Mijatov said 87 per cent of members stated they had "minimal or no trust" in the company's management.
He would not give the precise number of responses received but said a "majority of international flight attendants" had taken part.
"It is overwhelming, the largest response we have ever had," he said. "It shows that members are very concerned."
Mr Mijatov said it appeared increasingly likely that members would take strike action in mid-December to push for improved wages and conditions.
"The way it's looking, it's not very good," he said.
Meanwhile, the union will lodge a dispute notification in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in relation to the company's employment of people under fixed-term contracts.
Mr Mijatov said 170 new fixed-term workers, who were not considered ongoing full-time employees, were being trained by Qantas but had not been guaranteed employment with the company.
"We see that as merely a cynical exercise to use those people as strike breakers if it comes down to an industrial showdown in December," Mr Mijatov said.
"We are asking the commission to rule that the way they are utilising these people is not in accordance with EBA conditions."
He said he expected the matter to be heard in the AIRC within the next fortnight.
Qantas has previously stated the staff were being trained for the busy festive period.
© 2004 AAP
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