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Qantas Baggage Handlers Take Action
Qantas International Ramp baggage handlers have this morning held a meeting to discuss the serious and ongoing safety concerns at Sydney Airport.
TWU Secretary Tony Sheldon: “The employees have resolved this morning to have Senior Qantas Management come back to the discussion table to reach a solution to their safety problems.
The TWU will be lodging a dispute with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to have Qantas sit down and hear the safety concerns of the employees and to have an independent investigation occur by an OH&S expert addressing all of the safety concerns across Qantas at Sydney Airport.
“The employees are still disappointed and frustrated that Qantas management have ignored these serious safety issues for 5 months.
“How would you feel going to work each day for 5 months only to see another one of your fellow workers sustain a serious injury.
“Here we have a company worth $6 billion who have just recorded a 73% rise in profits, and they refuse to sit down and solve these serious safety issues.
“Qantas are forgetting the very people who have made them the company they are today. How many more employees will be seriously injured in the race to increase profits.”
Today’s meeting follows a meeting held yesterday to discuss the inaction by Qantas management in resolving serious and ongoing safety issues.
The safety issues revolved around staffing levels, old and poorly maintained equipment and a lack of reporting mechanisms for safety.
“We are hopeful that yesterday’s meeting has brought these serious concerns to the attention of Senior Qantas management and that it will not be another injury to an employee that finally brings about action from Qantas”, Mr Sheldon said.
In recent surveys amongst Qantas employees it was found that 30% of employees had been injured while at work and 1 in 7 employees had to have time off work as a result of injury in the last year.
Media Inquiries Josh McIntosh 0408 463 199.
18 March 2008
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