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The Australian Services Union (ASU) has attacked Qantas for its move to outsource baggage handling at Western Sydney International Airport.
Qantas Group has called for Requests for Proposal (RFPs) from labour-hire firms to handle ground operations for QantasLink and Jetstar flights at the new airport, which is slated to open next year. Qantas and Jetstar were in 2023 the first two airlines to sign on to operate from WSI.
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ASU assistant national secretary Emeline Gaske accused Qantas of “once again choosing cheap labour hire contracts over good, permanent jobs” after “years of offshoring and outsourcing across its workforce”.
“Qantas has sold Western Sydney down Badgerys Creek with second-rate contractor jobs. This community, which is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, deserves more from Qantas,” she said.
“Instead of investing in secure jobs for local people, they’re repeating the same mistakes that led to chaos across their operations during COVID and after.
“This is yet another round of short-term decisions from a company that continues to put profits before people.”
Qantas says it has used third-party providers for Jetstar and QantasLink ground handling and MRO for a number of years, and that jobs for both airlines will still be needed at WSI.
“Hundreds of operational roles will be needed to support the launch of these operations, providing a boost to the local jobs market across the Western Sydney region,” a spokesperson said.
“We have begun talking to potential suppliers that we will need to operate these flights, including ground handling and engineering services, which is common-place for similar sized operations around the country.”
The ASU, however, has pointed to Qantas’ illegal outsourcing of ground handlers during the pandemic to say the Flying Kangaroo “has clearly learned nothing from its previous outsourcing fiasco”.
“Qantas promised to engage with us and the community about its plans for Western Sydney Airport. We’ve spent over a year asking for talks to create secure, in-house jobs. Instead, the community has been blindsided today with the news that they’re outsourcing everything,” said Gaske.
“This is yet another example of Qantas cutting corners and driving down job quality to maximise profits at the expense of its workers and customers.
“We are urging Qantas to reconsider this short-sighted decision. After receiving over a billion dollars in taxpayer support during the pandemic, the least it can do is deliver secure, local jobs and proper services to the communities who stood by them.
“Qantas should stop ignoring workers, stop ignoring their union, and stop ignoring what’s best for customers.”
Richard Daniell
says:Typical union response to a complete non issue.
Why would any company hire direct staff under these union conditions.
Nearly all airlines flying in/out and around Australia use labor hire firms now. This is as a direct result of the ridiculous union conditions airlines were forced to follow, only labor hire firms can spread the load as they work for
Multiple airlines at all times of the day, not just morning and afternoon peaks.
The union needs to be honest with itself first, they have literally priced themselves out of the market.
[email protected]
says:I have to agree with you Richard, we must not forget that staff employed by these labour hire enterprises which, in some cases are owned by other airlines but, in all cases, staff are covered by various union awards supported by the unions for those enterprises concerned so I fail to see the problem here. As I see it, this is purely an all in bashing of the Qantas group by the unions because they can. It probably won’t happen but, all unions involved should be called in by the relevant Minister for a heart-to-heart chat but, I forgot, the Minister is employed indirectly by the unions and the ACTU. If there is to be a positive and progressive change for our country and business, things have to change industrially or we will all be out of business.
[email protected]
says:The preceeding comments have conveniently neglected the fact that Joyce not only outsourced baggage handling at Oz airports, but he gave the business to overseas operators of ill repute. Specifically, to those from Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. Effectively, he EXPORTED those jobs. Was it any wonder that the Federal Court found against him and in favour of the unions?