here we go.............................1830 bne time
ABC ONLINE
Adelaide baggage handlers walk out
Posted 2 hours 3 minutes ago
Updated 1 hour 54 minutes ago
baggage handlers (file photo)
Qantas baggage handlers in Adelaide claim their jobs and conditions are under threat.
* Map: Adelaide 5000
Qantas baggage handlers at Adelaide airport have walked off the job.
They have accused the airline of trying to cut their pay and conditions.
About 100 workers have stopped, disrupting some baggage services.
Alex Gallacher from the Transport Workers Union says Qantas wants to outsource positions in Adelaide and Perth.
He says Qantas has brought in strike breakers from interstate and will go to the Industrial Relations Commission tonight seeking an order for baggage handlers to be forced back to work.
"The company's proposing that the baggage make-up area, some 25 to 30 positions would be tested against the market rate of pay which is code for the lowest tenderer," he said.
"That work would be outsourced.
"We have a live enterprise agreement which expires from June of '08 and we've said you cannot do this."
Mr Gallacher says Qantas has ignored the proper process.
"Basically we just want them to take it off the table and do it in the normal process, which would be to go through the federal office of the union, the respective negotiating team of the union, fully cost their proposal, explain what they're doing," he said.
"They're doing a smash and grab, so they've precipitated this action which will continue until we win."