Qantas in row over casual labour

[Wirraway]

Wed "Melbourne Age"

Qantas in row over casual labour
By Paul Robinson
Workplace Editor
August 20, 2003

Unions have threatened to step up industrial action against Qantas following moves by the airline to introduce casual labour at Melbourne Airport.

Qantas baggage handlers walked off the job at Tullamarine yesterday, delaying passengers for more than two hours, after the airline sought to introduce three casual workers from a labour-hire company.

The ACTU Congress condemned the casual labour moves and warned that unions would oppose waterfront-style tactics to undermine permanent jobs.

Transport Workers Union secretary Bill Noonan said Qantas had breached its enterprise agreement with the union, which did not provide for casual labour.

Mr Noonan also claimed last night that Qantas was "testing the water" for plans to use non-union workers trained in Los Angeles to do the jobs of TWU workers, but at lower pay.

Unions were angry that Qantas had sought to employ casual staff at the same time that Qantas chairwoman Margaret Jackson was at the ACTU Congress in Melbourne talking about the need for workplace flexibility.

Ms Jackson refused to give assurances to the congress about the use of labor-hire companies.

Unions representing baggage handlers, counter staff, flight attendants, pilots and maintenance workers will meet today to consider further action.

A Qantas spokesman said yesterday the company had sought orders in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission because it believed the TWU industrial action was "clearly unlawful and totally unacceptable". The move to employ casual staff had followed weeks of consultation with the TWU, the spokesman said.

Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon last night declined to deny that the airline had trained people in Los Angeles on labour hire contracts. Asked about the allegation, he said: "We reserve the right to ensure our customers are not disrupted by unauthorised union actions. To this end we have contingencies to maintain our operations." with Brad Norington

=======================================

[Wirraway]

ABC News Online
Wednesday, August 20, 2003. 7:27pm (AEST)

Baggage handlers strike hits Qantas flights

The travel plans of thousands of Qantas passengers were disrupted this afternoon as a result of another snap strike by baggage handlers at Melbourne Airport.

The mid-afternoon strike caused delays to both domestic and international flights, with many passengers still to be reunited with their luggage.

The baggage handlers have since returned to work.

It is the second strike at Melbourne Airport in as many days, as workers indicate their displeasure at the airline's use of contract labour.

Qantas says flights in and out of Sydney were also disrupted, some by up to several hours.

The airline says 747 jumbo jets are operating between Sydney and Melbourne this evening to deal with the backlog of passengers.

Baggage workers in Sydney have met this afternoon expressing concern about untrained labour loading luggage in Melbourne.

The Transport Workers Union says it is monitoring the situation closely and its members will meet again in the morning.

=========================================

[Soulman]

Well,

Melbourne and Sydney have had their turns... Any guesses on who will cop it next? :)

Latest odds (as at 2130hrs - August 20, 2003)

Adelaide - 3 to 1
Perth - 4.5 to 1
Brisbane - 7 to 2
Hobart - 9 to 1
And the Dark Horse - Cairns at 12 to 1. :p

Personally, I'm going the Daily Double - $20 bucks each way on Adelaide and Brisbane thanks. ;)

Cheers,

Souls.

[Wirraway]

Thurs "Melbourne Age"

Flight chaos forces a deal
By Paul Robinson
Workplace editor
August 21, 2003

Qantas agreed yesterday to a seven-day freeze on hiring casual staff after a snap four-hour strike by baggage handlers threw domestic and international flight schedules into chaos.

Further disruptions at Melbourne Airport will be temporarily averted after the Australian Industrial Relations Commission last night blocked 600 Qantas baggage handlers from taking industrial action.

The workers walked off the job at 12.30pm, claiming Qantas had introduced non-union, overseas-trained workers from a labour-hire company.

Commissioner Brendan Eames restricted Qantas to using 12 contract baggage handlers it has hired for Melbourne Airport until the use of casual staff is investigated next Wednesday. He also limited the contractors working time to 25 hours a week.

Qantas human resources manager Kevin Brown last night welcomed the decision: "The conditions are totally in line with the introduction of contractors on the Melbourne ramp. This will help us achieve the flexibility we need to remain competitive."

The strike severely disrupted in and outbound Melbourne flights and left passengers stranded without luggage.

Striking staff agreed to return to work after three contractors from a labour-hire firm finished a four-hour shift and up to 30 Qantas managers trained as baggage handlers left the ramp area.

Unions representing baggage handlers, maintenance workers and airline counter staff yesterday accused Qantas of trying to "de-unionise" the company and cut labor costs by stealth using contract casual staff.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union secretary Doug Cameron said Qantas planned to become a "virtual airline" by retaining the kangaroo brand, management structures and a core workforce but contracting most staff through labor-hire firms.

But Qantas spokesman Michael Sharp said claims the company had brought in overseas trained contractors to de-unionise the company were "utter nonsense". He said some Qantas managers had been trained in baggage handling in Los Angeles to act in times of industrial action.

Qantas had hired three contractors, who were TWU members, and had also trained a further nine casual contractors locally to work four hour shifts during peak times.Most local passengers were forced to fly without baggage yesterday but Qantas has promised to deliver possessions to homes and hotels today.

=========================================

[Wirraway]

Thurs "Sydney Morning Herald"

Qantas win on casual jobs
By Brad Norington, Industrial Editor
August 21, 2003

Qantas last night frustrated union efforts to stop the airline hiring baggage handlers on casual labour hire contracts, after a day in which flights were seriously disrupted for the second time in 24 hours.

The airline won the legal right to use 12 contract workers trained in a secret location as baggage handlers, as part of orders by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

The Transport Workers Union was also ordered to cease industrial action at Melbourne Airport after its baggage handlers had refused to work alongside contractors that Qantas introduced.

Qantas yesterday confirmed it had trained company managers in Los Angeles as strike-breakers in anticipation of industrial trouble when the airline sought to replace permanent staff with casual workers.

It is believed that up to 40 Qantas managers have been specially trained in Los Angeles to operate ramp equipment and handle baggage in Melbourne.

Qantas is refusing to deny a further union claim that trained managers were kept on ice yesterday at the Hilton Hotel at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, awaiting a call to work if a strike erupted.

Qantas managers yesterday helped move baggage when the union refused to work alongside three casual contract workers employed by the Blue Collar labour hire firm.

In the disruption caused as the Transport Workers Union blocked access to baggage areas, dozens of Qantas flights were delayed around the country and the airline's schedule thrown into turmoil.

At this stage, Qantas wants to use up to 14 contract workers from Blue Collar, most of whom are still being trained at a secret location in Melbourne.

The Blue Collar workforce has also been signed up as TWU members, although the union regards them as union busters.

Qantas's chief executive, Geoff Dixon, is determined to introduce a casual workforce in addition to permanent employees to gain a more flexible use of his workforce and to cut overtime costs. That would give Mr Dixon more power to hire or lay off casual staff at will, according to demand.

But unions claim that Qantas has a broader agenda to undermine permanent employment across the airline by putting a large proportion on casual employment.

The union's Victorian secretary, Bill Noonan, said the airline was being highly provocative because it was hiring a new casual workforce at the same time as permanent employees were being made redundant.

Under last night's commission ruling, Qantas can employ at most 12 contract workers until at least Friday next week for a maximum of 25 hours a week in "isolated" work stations.

The commission also declared that the union's bans over the past two days were "illegitimate".

Qantas's executive general manager of human resources, Kevin Brown, said last night he was delighted with the ruling.

Mr Brown said it was "totally in line" with Qantas's plans to make the airline more flexible and competitive at domestic and international levels.

Qantas denies it has a target level of casual employment in mind for its workforce, although one draft document relating to Sydney baggage handlers would allow up to 45 per cent on casual contracts.

Unions also claim that casual employment is an excuse for companies such as Qantas to escape entitlements such as holiday leave and sick pay.

The battle over contract labour comes on the eve of today's Qantas profit result and an announcement on restructuring the airline into separate divisions.

=========================================

[Keg]

Hang on a sec. I've always been told that industrial action outside of the 'protected' period of an EBA was illegal and the union(s) involved could be sued for damages?!?! Notwithstanding the merits of these types of things (which I don't want to get involved in), why is it that you always hear of unions in QF (and elsewhere) on stop works or strike but never hear of action being taken against them?!?!

Any industrial relations experts out there?

[Casper]

Hey TWU,

What's the problem with non-union labour from overseas?

In THAT year (1989), through the ACTU led govt. and the silver bodgie YOU supported:

* Use of foreign non-union labour; AND
* fast tracking of immigration procedures for such labour;AND
* cancelling of union awards;AND
* fast processing of "paperwork" to recognize "qualifications" of
such foreign workers; AND
* the issuing of common law writs against individual union
workers;AND
* the use of military personnel to do the work of union members.

As ye sow, so shall ye reap! Your turn, fellas!

[mainwheel]

Maybe look to some full time employees of the rat who use holidays and long service leave to go to an asian carrier to suppliment their income. Ask them how they feel about this!

[Pimp Daddy]

Keg - dunno about any firm action, but the rampies were all given letters today as they arrived at work informing them that if they took illegal action they would be terminated.

Seems to me the unions play into Qantas' hands every time with this stuff. Turn up to the IRC having undertook illegal action does not get you off on the right foot with the commisioner.

[VTM]

Don't Australian Air Express employ part time loaders!

[Belgique]

Unconfirmed rumour (of some substance however) that quite a few QANTAS non-management/non-aviating professionals are in line for the big redundancy pay-outs V-jet soon - as part of the restructuring into 8 "business units". Apparently the AeroMedicine types don't fit into any of the "business units" for starters.

The new style QANTAS is planned to be structured without any bells and whistles at all - and strictly attuned to the bottom line. That means that those who don't contribute to the bottom line now have a life-span measured in terms of their contractual exit provisions.

Perhaps those savings will cover the start-up costs for the new LCA.

Anybody aware of any other specialist parts of QANTAS that are about to get the chop?? Aviation Safety type peoples also to go?

[Wirraway]

Fri "Melbourne Age"

Fight looms over plans to increase casual staff
By Paul Robinson
Workplace Editor
August 22, 2003

Airline unions are planning an industrial campaign over moves by Qantas to increase its proportion of casual staff by up to 25 per cent of its 33,000-strong workforce over the next two years.

Qantas foreshadowed the casual workforce target yesterday while revealing an annual profit of $343 million. This included the company's first loss over the past six months of $9 million.

The ACTU yesterday condemned the proposed shift to a larger casual workforce saying it would lead to 8000 permanent staff being replaced by casual workers who would receive less pay, little job security, no access to housing loans and few leave benefits.

It refused to rule out strike action unless Qantas negotiated alternative staff programs and cost savings.

But Qantas human resources manager Kevin Brown told staff yesterday the company wanted to boost productivity and flexibility through increased use of casual labor. He denied it was planning to become "a virtual airline" - a band of core employees backed by an army of casual workers, as some unions have predicted.

Mr Brown said Qantas would increase casual labour through "attrition and growth" not at the expense of employees' jobs.

The ACTU yesterday also released an unsigned Qantas draft agreement for baggage handlers at Sydney Airport, which proposed to replace up to 45 per cent of permanent staff with casuals from a labour-hire agency. Qantas yesterday rejected the proposal, drawn up in July, but it was hailed by unions as further proof of the airline's long-term casual labour strategy.

ACTU secretary Greg Combet yesterday refused to rule out co-ordinated industrial action by unions representing other airline workers such as counter staff.

His warning follows strike action at Melbourne Airport this week by 600 baggage handlers over the introduction of three contract casual workers and a proposal to employ nine more.

The Australian Industrial Relations Commission ordered the men back to work but placed a freeze on Qantas from employing any more than the 12 casual workers until a hearing next week.

==========================================
Fri "Sydney Morning Herald"

Unions ready for fight over casual staff plans
By Brad Norington, Industrial Editor
August 22, 2003

Qantas yesterday opened a new battlefront with unions over its proposal to set up a no-frills domestic airline, because of fears about savage cuts to wages and conditions.

Unions are also worried that starting a new airline from scratch would give Qantas total freedom to hire contract, part-time or casual labour.

A Qantas spokesman confirmed last night that the airline would need a cost structure that matched Virgin Blue if it was to compete in the discount leisure market.

Unions believe that the proposed separate domestic airline would also increase pressure to reduce pay and conditions for staff at the main carrier.

In a move that could also split them, unions expect Qantas to offer union coverage to the one that accepts the lowest pay.

Qantas's chief executive, Geoff Dixon, yesterday confirmed that he wanted to increase casual, part-time and contract employment from 15 per cent to 25 per cent of the airline's workforce over the next two years.

Confirmation from Mr Dixon of a target for non-permanent jobs comes after two days of strike action by baggage handlers fighting to stop their job security being undermined.

Minutes of a recent meeting between airline executives and the Transport Workers Union confirm that Qantas plans to hire no further permanent baggage-handling staff. Workers will instead be recruited on casual contracts and employed by a labour hire company.

Baggage handlers at Melbourne airport yesterday reluctantly accepted orders by the Industrial Relations Commission that banned further strike action after serious flight disruptions on Tuesday and Wednesday

The dispute is regarded by unions as the start of Qantas's campaign to spread casual employment in the company.

The ACTU secretary, Greg Combet, said casualising the workforce would inflict lower living standards and leave staff without entitlements such as holiday pay and sick leave. He also claimed Qantas's eventual target was to have 45 per cent of workers employed as casuals.

Although a draft Qantas agreement obtained by the Herald does provide for 45 per cent of Sydney baggage handlers to be employed on casual labour hire contracts, the airline's spokesman said yesterday no such plans were contemplated.

Qantas would reach its 25 per cent target without workers losing their jobs, he said.

Casualisation would be achieved when workers left or voluntarily converted to part-time employment, or when labour needs increased.


============================================

[Wirraway]

AAP

Qantas mulls moving jobs offshore
August 22, 2003

Qantas Airways Ltd chief executive Geoff Dixon says the company will consider moving jobs offshore if it is viable to do so.

The comments came after Qantas announced on Thursday that Australia's fourth largest private employer, planned to increase casual, part-time and contracted employees from 15 per cent of its workforce to 20 or 25 per cent over the next two years.

Unions are preparing for a waterfront-style showdown with Qantas over the airline's plans to convert up to one-quarter of its 34,000 jobs to casual and contract positions.

"It is something that we must always consider (moving jobs offshore)," Mr Dixon told ABC TV's Business Breakfast.

"We are a global company ... and we compete against companies that have lower operating costs for a variety of reasons.

"If we can source suitable activities offshore much better than we can in Australia we would be silly not to do it."

He also said that Qantas would not support a plan for Singapore Airlines to enter the Australia-United States flight route, saying there was no equivalent trade off for the domestic airline.

"We don't think it is right. We don't think there is an equivalent trade off for Qantas in such an arrangement and we think it would be not beneficial to Australia," he said.

"It is a very competitive route anyway, United is coming back in quite a big way, and you have got to have some groups that remain profitable."

On Thursday, Qantas said it expects to improve on its performance in 2003/04 after reporting a 19.7 per cent fall in net profit for the year to June 30, 2003, to $343.5 million.

With the airline booking a $352.5 million net profit for the first half, the overall result meant a net loss of about $9.0 million for the second half.

©2003 AAP