News

Transport union takes action against Jetstar

The Transport Workers’ Union will apply to the Fair Work Commission for good faith bargaining orders against Jetstar. The union is seeking the orders in response to threats by Jetstar that it would ground the airline, similar to the 2011 action of its parent company Qantas.

TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon said: “The travelling public has a right to know that at Christmas time they are being used as pawns by Jetstar in how it treats its workforce. Hardworking aviation workers have a right to negotiate for better conditions without being threatened with being shut out of their jobs.”

TWU said Jetstar employees are the lowest paid workers directly employed by the Qantas group. After 12 months of negotiations Jetstar is still demanding an 18-month wage freeze; demanding workers be available for a six-day week without overtime; and refusing to bring job classifications into line with industry standards. 

“Aviation is an industry marked by the fact that 21 per cent earn below the poverty line of $863 for a couple with two children. Jetstar is owned by Qantas, a company which today forecast it will make up to $1 billion profit in the first six months of 2016. While its workforce are struggling to pay bills the company is paying its chief executive $12 million,” Sheldon said.

“Management have refused to constructively discuss our claims to ensure the workforce is able to earn a decent and fair wage. Jetstar’s tactics are more akin to the bargaining style of 18th century Victorian industrialists rather than a modern airline,” he added.

The TWU has written to Jetstar ahead of lodging an application to the Fair Work Commission today under the Fair Work Act 2009 which dictates that bargaining representatives must meet good faith bargaining requirements.

Leave a Reply

Send this to a friend