Qantas secures Fair Work victory over outsourcing limits
Qantas has been dealt a victory in its long-running dispute with 3800 baggage handlers after the industrial umpire rejected their claims for a limit to be put on the outsourcing of work.
The Transport Workers Union, which represents baggage handlers and other ground crew, had wanted outside labour hires to be capped at a fifth of the number of full- or part-time Qantas workers.
But in a judgment released today, the Fair Work commissioners ruled that the TWU's claim failed because Qantas had for many years used labour hire and contractors, which had not been shown to adversely affect the airline's other employees.
"To interfere with management's decision on such a matter would require clear and strong evidence of unfairness," the judgment said. "No such case has been established."
They win again....
Qantas today welcomed Fair Work's decision, declaring that it had mandated that the airline "is entitled to run its business free from union control".
The airline's head of government and corporate affairs, Olivia Wirth, said it was clear that the TWU's demands were "out of step with what is fair and reasonable for a union to demand".
Qantas put the cost of the industrial dispute last year at $68 million.The decision prevents the baggage handlers from taking protected industrial action for at least the next two years.[/QUOTE]
It appears, no matter how big a union is these days, it's hard to beat this FWA system... now known as FWCA Fair Work Choices Australia.... what's the difference?...