From The Australian:
A MAJOR union is threatening strike action after Qantas announced it will axe 5000 jobs over three years.
Unions also took aim at the performance of Qantas management after chief executive Alan Joyce declared today’s $252 million first half underlying loss “unacceptable’’ and announced a major restructuring of the national carrier.
Unions will tomorrow meet Qantas management over the job cuts, which include 1500 management and non-operational roles and a swathe of jobs in aircraft maintenance.
But Transport Workers Union national secretary Tony Sheldon warned Qantas could face industrial action.
He called on the Abbott government to meet with the airline to find ways of avoiding the job cuts.
“But if (Treasurer) Joe Hockey’s not prepared to do that, then it’s industrial action that the workforce should be considering,’’ Mr Sheldon told reporters in Sydney.
“We have the right to withdraw our labour.’’
The Abbott Government appears to have been looking for a corporate stalking horse to help accelerate its anti-union agenda and it may just have found one.
