|
QANTAS PUTTING
NATIONAL SECURITY AT RISK
Qantas’ plan to outsource labour in sections of the airport is a dangerous move which is risking the safety of thousands of Australians. Labour hire employee arrangements present a very real threat to national security.
National and NSW Secretary of the Transport Workers’ Union Tony Sheldon said “Labour hire workers don’t have background checks before being allowed into extremely sensitive areas of the airport. They are only covered through a temporary visitor pass while their application is being processed – meaning potential terrorists could be slipping through the cracks.
“These workers often wait for proper clearance for up to six months, while no one knows anything about their background. This is inappropriate, and presents a real threat to security.
“In Queensland a flight catering operation of labour hire workers were found to be working without any security clearance at all, not even a temporary visitor pass. This is a blatant breach of security,” said Mr Sheldon.
The nature of Labour hire arrangements, particularly the high turn over of staff means that Labour hire employees are often untrained and more susceptible to be pressured out of reporting security matters.
Mr Sheldon said “This susceptibility to intimidation and pressure was seen in 2006 when a group of labour hire workers were told to unload a potential bomb from a Virgin flight and told their jobs depended on it.
“National security, the traveling public and the economic profitability of the airline industry is clearly being put at risk by labour hire arrangements,” said Mr Sheldon.
Media Contact: Kristen Wall 0414 943 551
|
