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IMPORTANT QUESTIONS REMAIN AFTER QANTAS AGM
On Wednesday the14th of November a group of Qantas employee-shareholders who are also Transport Workers’ Union members attended the Qantas Annual General Meeting.
At the meeting the Union took the opportunity to ask the board to explain their policy regarding the job security of Qantas employee, the future of Australian maintenance and what Qantas’ plans to split itself into four means for Qantas families.
The board could not guarantee that under any future restructure of the company that there would be no job losses, or that there would be no more jobs going offshore.
Ian Sherwood, a longstanding Qantas employee who attended the Annual General Meeting said “We didn’t get a straight answer from the board. We came because we care about the company and its’ future.”
“All we are asking for is that our jobs won’t be lost when the company splits into four,” said Mr Sherwood.
The board was also questioned on the company’s safety record and strategy to maintain its strong reputation for safety and standards.
“All 38,000 Qantas families are being put under great pressure at work, ahead of a plan to split the company into four,” said Tony Sheldon, National & NSW Secretary of the Transport Workers’ Union.
“We brought to the board’s attention the consequences of this intensification on safety in the workplace, standards for passengers, and potential legal liabilities.
“We didn’t get a proper answer. The questions remain. They need to be answered.
“All Qantas families are committed to working with management to make sure that Qantas remains the best airline in the world, and that all Qantas families can share in the company’s success.
“That’s why we’ll continue to fight for best practise standards at Qantas no matter how the company is legally structured,” said Mr Sheldon.
20 November 2007
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