The Transport Workers’ Union has criticized the Morrison government’s decision to extend financial assistance to Qantas despite the airline’s loss of more than 8500 jobs since the outbreak.
In an announcement made on Monday, the provincial government said it would increase financial support for the domestic aviation industry until March while it recovers from the COVID-19 crisis.
Demands Of TWU Members
The Australian tourism industry has been one of the most affected industries since the health crisis. Qantas has lost billions of dollars and its biggest competitor Virgin Australia was forced into voluntary management.
Despite the financial crisis, TWU says public funds provided to the industry should be linked to aviation commitment to retain jobs rather than outsourcing work to third parties.
Job Losses And Layoffs
Qantas at the end of November announced that it would remove another 2500 jobs due to the decision to provide ground services to 10 Australian airports. The decision coincided with Qantas’ financial renewal that the forecast would also break by 2021.
TWU Secretary General Michael Kaine said the provincial government had failed to protect the interests of taxpayers by investing in the wireless industry.
Mr Kaine also pointed out that Qantas has failed to announce carpets in large pay packages and bonuses for the foreseeable future while the airline continues to operate at lower levels for at least the next two to three years.
“This is not a thread attached to the well-being of corporations at its most critical times. The provincial government opens a public fund for people like Qantas without ensuring that the taxpayer gets a good deal, ”he said.
“Qantas has taken public support to continue flying and paying JobKeeper for its employees and at the same time undermining the jobs of 2500 international workers. Qantas in its place will involve employees through external agencies on low wages and conditions. This will affect working families, local communities and hit our economy. ”
The provincial government is yet to announce additional supportto taxpayers to extend support.
Qantas’ Performance
“Due to commercial problems pending the preparation of contracts with airlines, the cost of their extension is yet to be finalized,” Transport Minister Michael McCormack’s spokesman told NCA NewsWire.
In its results for the 2020 financial year, Qantas revealed an astonishing legal loss of $ 2.7 billion, prompting chief executive Alan Joyce to say the airline should reduce its size by about 30 percent to meet the new small aircraft needs in the industry.
Last week TWU announced it had taken legal action against Qantas over its decision to cut off operations, saying the dismissal of 2,500 workers was illegal.
“The coalition government is showing a lack of panic in managing or voluntarily supporting Qantas’ strategy of cutting and burning jobs,” Mr Kaine said.
“Qantas has said it will be open even next year and there is no doubt that he will start making a profit soon. This will mean that the bonanza will also be paid by management and bonuses following its payment of $ 24 million to its CEO. In the meantime, workers will be fired from their jobs. ”
Qantas said the TWU’s executive committee’s salary claim was correct, adding that its executives had taken a fixed amount of money at the time of the 35 percent spread.
Between April and August, Mr Joyce decided to give up his salary, which reduced his earnings by almost 80 percent compared to last year, while some senior executives did not take a salary for three months during the epidemic.
For the 2020 financial year ending June 30, Mr Joyce’s salary was nearly $ 1.7 million. TWU’s claim is based on Mr Joyce’s salary for the 2017 financial year.
“TWU quotes FY17 Group CEO’s salary of $ 24 million. As mentioned at the time, the CEO’s pay for that year was driven by Qantas’ share price rising by more than 350 percent (with bonuses mainly paid to corporate shares). Payment by the CEO exceeded half of the following year and continued to fall, ”said a Qantas spokesman.
“TWU says nothing about higher pay for other airlines – including some Australian airlines – even though jobs have been lost in those companies.”
