Protests in support of Qantas workers come to London today (Wednesday) as trade unionists join international action against action by the airline’s chief executive Alan Joyce.
The global mobilisation follows a weekend shut down of the Australian airline at the end of last month in an intensification of a bitter industrial dispute. A 21-day period for the airline’s management and unions to find a settlement to concerns over costs cutting and job losses ends soon.
The focus of the protests will be the Australian High Commission in the action organised by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), Australia’s Transport Workers’ Union, representing many Qantas staff; and Unite, which speaks for many staff in Qantas’ Oneworld alliance partner British Airways.
The London event is part of a wider international action day for Qantas workers, with anger focused on Qantas boss Joyce over his attempt to lock out staff. It came as Qantas offered frequent flyers additional points until December 23 in an effort to prevent them from deserting the carrier.
Joyce said: “We deeply regret the impact on our frequent flyers of the recent industrial action and grounding of the Qantas fleet. However, our customers can now book Qantas flights with confidence and certainty. Qantas is now 100% focused on getting customers to their destinations, safely, on time, in comfort, and rewarding their loyalty to Qantas.”
But TWU national president Jim McGiveron claimed that the grounding had left the airline “on a knife edge”.
He said: “Other aviation workers understand the risks of outsourcing jobs and essential services across the seas, and are standing by us as we resist these changes that threaten to wreck Qantas’ hard-won reputation for service and safety.”
ITF president Paddy Crumlin added: “The Australian people and government massively rejected Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce’s failed lockout strategy. But the danger remains. Qantas jobs need to be protected, and that’s what the Australian unions and now their colleagues worldwide are doing.
“We and our counterparts from around the world are gathering and demonstrating here and, among other places, in Frankfurt, Tokyo, Manila, Jakarta, Los Angeles, Dallas, Auckland, Wellington, Buenos Aires and Santiago to put the case for a settlement that respects the needs, aspirations and strengths of Qantas workers.”
ITF general secretary David Cockroft said: “Alan Joyce has been forced to back down this time but his plans to offshore jobs at the airline haven’t been abandoned. While that danger remains unions remain on alert, and are proving their support for their Qantas colleagues.
“Trade unions are drawing a line here today, and warning the world that it is truly looking at the thin end of the wedge. If this kind of ‘off shoring’ and downsizing is allowed to spread it could be the end of genuine national airlines and the beginning of airlines of inconvenience – low cost, union-cleansed, relocated and flagged out.”