WORKERS PROTEST AT CAIRNS AIRPORT FOR BETTER, SAFER JOBS
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The TWU has welcomed the ACCC’s approval of the Virgin-Qatar wet lease as a positive for the stability of the airline into the future, opportunities for workers and increased services for the travelling public.
The approval does not however extinguish significant worker concerns over labour standards given Qatar’s track record with human rights and worker abuses.
In November the TWU wrote to Virgin around these concerns, to which Virgin agreed to an ongoing consultation process, providing the opportunity to set in place the best practice model for the proposed wet lease, secondments for Virgin pilots and cabin crew and ongoing opportunities for ground crew.
Given the ACCC’s green light, workers now need to see these consultation commitments, which Virgin has yet to meaningfully act on, accelerated and embedded as part of this process.
Workers continue to call on Bain Capital to recommit to workers around respect for workers, good, secure jobs, ongoing investment in the airline, an employee share scheme and support for industry reform.
The Foreign Investment Review Board has yet to make a decision on the proposal of a 25% Qatar stake in Virgin.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said it was now critical for Virgin to make clear commitments around these matters of concern.
“This green light of the Virgin-Qatar wet lease is a significant opportunity for the stability and success of the airline into the future.
“There are still several uncertainties facing Virgin in the short-term, including approval of the 25% Qatar stake and CEO Hrdlicka’s successor.
“It’s now up to both Virgin and Bain to fulfill its commitment to TWU members—who have been critical in getting the airline out of administration and to the position it’s in now—to urgent and ongoing consultation throughout this process.
“Ultimately we need a Safe and Secure Skies Commission to oversee the industry and ensure decisions are made in the interests of workers and the public.”