not sure if this has been posted already....
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20965199-2,00.html
Qantas sacks alleged 'saboteur'
By Peter Veness
December 22, 2006 04:19pm
Article from: AAP
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QANTAS has sacked a flight attendant for allegedly shoving blankets down toilets on a number of international flights.
The airline also believes the man tampered with phones used by crew to communicate with each other.
Qantas has refused to comment on the matter, but it is believed a male flight attendant has been sacked and will be taking his case to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
It is also believed the Australian Federal Police have been called in to investigate the matter.
Lawyers for the man have told him not to co-operate with police beyond a basic interview.
One incident is said to have occurred onboard a Boeing 747 heading for Los Angeles from Sydney.
The plane was grounded for 24 hours while engineers worked to fix the toilet.
The alleged incident has been linked to an on-going industrial relations campaign by Qantas staff which has elevated in recent weeks following the planned privatisation of the airline by private equity consortium Airline Partners Australia.
The Flight Attendants Association of Australia, which would likely represent the accused man in any court proceeding, announced a letter writing campaign against the deal yesterday.
All Qantas unions are urging their members to write to MPs and senators in a bid to highlight national interest concerns associated with the privatisation.
Unions are running several campaigns to save the airline from privatisation.
The Australian and International Pilots Association has suggested its members may try to buy enough shares in the company to block a sale.
The association would have to buy nine per cent of the airline to stop the takeover.
Prime Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello have voiced their support for the current arrangements at the airline.
Mr Howard has constantly repeated his wish that "the Qantas we have is the Qantas we keep".