Vic: Secret ballot on Qantas dispute

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2001
Vic: Secret ballot on Qantas dispute

MELBOURNE, Dec 11 AAP - Qantas and its maintenance unions will spend the week awaiting
the outcome of a secret ballot on an 18 month wage freeze.

Some 2,500 aircraft maintenance engineers will be asked to accept or reject the wage
freeze - the sticking point of a six month dispute.

The compromise was recommended by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission after
48 hours of mediated talks failed to reach a resolution.

Qantas has offered an incentive payment of between one and 10 per cent after an 18
month wage freeze if airline profits meet a set target.

But the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and the Australian Workers Union
(AWU) have been holding out for a wage increase at least in line with inflation, and no
wage freeze.

AMWU national secretary Doug Cameron said Qantas had acted arrogantly and belligerently
in attempting to force the airline's lowest paid workers into accepting the freeze.

"The Qantas market share has gone up ... yet they want to cut workers' wages. That
is unacceptable," Mr Cameron said.

The disputing union members make up about one third of the airline's maintenance employees.

Both Qantas and union representatives today said it was unlikely ongoing work bans
would impact on Christmas flights.

"Members of other engineering unions are not participating (in the industrial action)
and are providing aircraft maintenance, ensuring full compliance with aircraft safety
regulations," the Qantas spokesman said.

AAP ag/cjh/sb

KEYWORD: QANTAS DAYLEAD

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.