WORKERS PROTEST AT CAIRNS AIRPORT FOR BETTER, SAFER JOBS
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The TWU has welcomed the stop-gap measure from the Federal Government to guarantee ticket prices, calling for further interventions that provide a community say for aviation.
The TWU also slammed delays and uncertainty from the administrator on the owed entitlements of 343 redundant workers in the Regional Airways Limited business, which operated main city routes, that has been shut down but not liquidated.
The TWU is calling for urgent action to guarantee the entitlements of these workers through liquidation to allow them to access the Fair Entitlements Guarantee scheme, or an explanation on how a sale process would ensure their entitlements are paid in a timely manner.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said:
“Government intervention is welcome, and this initiative will help protect the remaining thousand or so jobs in limbo at Rex, while giving regional Australia some confidence in continuing to make travel plans.
“This is a stop-gap measure which must be followed by further well-designed intervention to secure redundant workers’ entitlements as soon as possible, guarantee a long-term future for regional air travel, and provide a seat at the table for the public.
“Hundreds of workers who lost their jobs in the blink of an eye have now been waiting two weeks for any information on how or when they’ll be able to access their owed entitlements. Since then, it’s come to light that CEO Neville Howell secured himself a golden handshake with a 12-month termination period just six days before the company went into administration. Workers deserve answers and those answers need to be in their best interests.
“For too long, aviation has been under the control of privatised airports and airlines, with workers, passengers and the community paying the price for the self-serving, profit-driven decisions of executives at the expense of a reliable, sustainable aviation industry. We need to see the government bailouts airlines have come to expect transformed into smart investment opportunities for the community. An equity stake in Rex and a Safe and Secure Skies Commission to set binding standards for the industry would reset aviation. These can’t come soon enough.”