Qantas confirms training of staff members for potential industrial action

Airline Industry Information, June 4, 2001

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Qantas Airways, an Australian carrier, has confirmed that it has been training 75 staff members in the Philippines to deal with union industrial action.

Unions have accused the airline of training strike-breakers at Manila Airport on account of ongoing labour contract negotiations, but Qantas Airways says that it has been training managers for industrial action response for more than ten years. A spokesperson for the airline told the Australian Associated Press, 'Qantas has a long-established practice of training selected managers to undertake certain airport-related functions in the event of sudden or protracted industrial action. Qantas has worked co-operatively with its employees in recent years and we would hope that this contingency training would not be required. Over recent weeks, small groups of managers, totalling 75, have been undergoing training at Manila Airport. The training is given only to current Qantas employees.'

Bill Shorten, the secretary of the Australian Workers Union, has accused Qantas Airways of using similar techniques as those that were used in the Patrick stevedoring dispute, when dock workers were secretly trained in Dubai. Shorten called the training scheme 'absolutely crazy.'

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