Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Qantas strikers accused airline of putting workers' safety at risk

QANTAS has been accused of putting workers' safety at risk by using clerical staff and managers to do the work of $20-an-hour baggage handlers during yesterday's four-hour strike.

The overseas-trained staff acted as "strike breakers" to minimise disruptions to flights during the stoppage by Transport Workers' Union members angered by stalled enterprise bargaining talks.

TWU Queensland airports co-ordinator Peter Paulos said a number of workplace, health and safety breaches were witnessed during the strike at Brisbane Airport.

"We observed a number of near-misses on the tarmac and a number of people not wearing the proper safety gear, including ear muffs," Mr Paulos said.

"For our members, these would be sackable offences.

"It is fortunate no one was seriously hurt."

Lead negotiator Scott Connolly said Qantas's handling of the strike meant no flight left Brisbane on time.

"Qantas locked out staff who wanted to work, and replaced them with unqualified strike breakers to perform specialised work," Mr Connolly said.

"Passengers should be concerned that this is the attitude management has to its customers and its workforce."

A Qantas spokesman denied any serious incidents and said reports of breaches would be "investigated fully".

"While today's TWU strike action forced us to cancel 28 services, our contingency planning allowed us to keep passenger disruptions to a minimum," the spokesman said.

"All our contingency workers are appropriately trained. Rather than making allegations about operational incidents, the TWU should return to sensible negotiations."

A 10am meeting in Sydney today will attempt to revive enterprise bargaining talks and avoid further industrial action.

Brisbane ramp delegate Peter Seage said it was time for Qantas to "start negotiating on a serious level" and respond to their log of claims.

"They've put nothing on the table whatsoever," he said.

He said a 5 per cent pay rise being sought by the TWU amounted to about $1 an hour for baggage handlers.

"Most of us earn about $20 an hour, and do an average of 1.8 hours a week overtime. It's not a highly paid job, but it's an important job," Mr Seage said.

"I'd like to think the company will come back with something that could appease the members and put us on the front foot for negotiations."

The union's 48-hour work bans were yesterday shelved to avoid further disruption.

http://www.couriermail.com.au

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