qantas to outsource new workers: twu

On Wednesday 26 October 2011, 17:15 EST A.B.C.


The Transport Workers Union (TWU) says Qantas will not employ new workers in Australia under its current corporate structure.

Qantas executives made the statement during enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations with the union today, TWU national secretary Tony Sheldon says.

Qantas executives had given an undertaking not to outsource any more jobs but have now reneged on that agreement, Mr Sheldon said.

"They've refused to make an enforceable arrangement that makes those words guaranteed," he said.

"What Qantas has also said verbatim is that Qantas will not employ another person in this country under Qantas, and they will be outsourcing work wherever they can overseas and to lower rates of pay within this country." The TWU says its members will hold a one-hour stop work meeting this Friday due to the impasse over pay negotiations.

The union has been in talks with Qantas for about six months, with rolling strike actions causing flight delays and cancellations across Australia for more than a month.

Nationwide strike action had been cancelled earlier this week as negotiations continued between both parties.