Qantas has accused unions of resorting to US-style intimidation, after the airline's chief executive Alan Joyce received "unhelpful and hurtful" death threats.
Qantas is involved in an ongoing industrial dispute, with unions fighting a planned restructure that could result in up to 1000 staff culled.
"That has led to a rather heated environment and we are seeing threats in the workplace," Qantas spokeswoman Olivia Wirth told Macquarie Radio today.
Ms Wirth, who has also received the threatening letters, later told the Seven Network unions were resorting to US-style intimidation.
"They're personally attacking management, it's one of those ways you can try and influence the outcomes of the industrial dispute - it's very unhelpful, it can be hurtful and we're hoping things can calm down a bit," she said.
"There's been a campaign going on for some time not only targeting myself but also Alan and other senior executives - it's part of what's called a US playbook that the unions are using."
But Transport Workers Union NSW secretary Wayne Forno said he didn't believe the union was responsible for the threats.
"It comes as a complete surprise to me, I might add," he told ABC Radio.
"There's no place for violence in any industrial campaign.
"There's no room for acts of intimidation and violence."
Mr Forno said he was surprised that Qantas went public with the information.
"I find it serious that Qantas has decided to make this public. I would have thought they would be taking this to police and letting police investigate."
Senior staff at Qantas have had their car windows smashed and homes damaged after refusing to strike, and Mr Joyce himself received an explicit death threat, the Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday.
A typed letter, sent to Mr Joyce's home, read in part: "It's coming soon Paddy. You can't even see it!"
"The Unions will fight you ... Qantas is our airline, started & staffed by Australians, not foreign filth like you.
"All your evil plans ... will come back to you very swiftly, & kick you (sic) Irish FOREIGN ARSE out of the country."
The threats are reportedly being investigated by both the Australian Federal Police and NSW police.
Mr Joyce emailed Qantas staff yesterday.
"Our CEO Alan Joyce yesterday put out a message to staff just to say bullying wouldn't be tolerated," Ms Wirth said.
Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association federal secretary Steve Purvinas told Macquarie Radio his union was not behind the death threats and had advised members in 2008 not to get involved in intimidation.
"We sent a message again about a month ago to our members, 'Just play it legally' because that's what worked last time.
"For those reasons, I don't think any of our members would be involved in this threat that Alan claims has been sent to his house."
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