FED: Plan to outsource maintenance jobs, blow to Qantas staff

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2001
FED: Plan to outsource maintenance jobs, blow to Qantas staff

Unions have warned that a plan by Qantas' new international carrier to outsource maintenance
jobs and cut cabin crew numbers shouldn't be at the risk of passenger safety.

Qantas has launched Australian Airlines -- an international leisure carrier operating
out of Cairns to six Asian cities.

However the airline is expected to operate at a low cost, with Qantas flagging plans
to outsource some maintenance work overseas as well as reducing flight attendants onboard
some aircraft.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union national secretary DOUG CAMERON says contracting
maintenance jobs would be a mistake that lowers the quality of maintenance work on Qantas
planes.

The Flight Attendants Association's JOHANNA BREM says the union is in the middle of
negotiations with Australian Airlines but it won't agree to reduce cabin crew if it risks
on-flight safety for passengers.

AAP RTV nd/arb/klw/rp

KEYWORD: QANTAS UNIONS (SYDNEY)

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