The ASU wrote to Swissport on 24 April 2020 demanding more information about the company’s threat to make 80% of its workforce redundant. Read our letter hear.
Swissport’s shameful threats come in the same week that other ground-handlers were registering for the JobKeeper Scheme. This would pay the company $1500 each fortnight to keep staff on during the pandemic.
The ASU has been working with airlines and ground-handlers to protect jobs during the COVID pandemic. This has included working with ground-handlers, including Swissport, to lobby the Federal Government for a rescue package for the industry.
Our message to Swissport is clear: Sign up for JobKeeper and work with the ASU to save jobs!
ASU TELLS FAIR WORK COMMISSION – SWISSPORT AGREEMENT SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN APPROVED
On 24 April 2020, the ASU appeared before a Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission to advance our appeal against the approval of the Aerocare Collective Agreement 2018. The ASU was represented by senior industrial relations barristers Mark Gibian SC and Anthony Howell.
The ASU’s case is simple
- The Commission’s assessment that the 2018 Agreement passed the better off overall test was not correct
- The undertakings accepted by the Commission have made substantial changes to the Agreement. This means that the Commission did not have the legal power to accept the changes.
- The Commission denied the ASU procedural fairness by making its decision based on information given to it by the Swissport that was not available to the ASU
- The Commission has reserved its decision. This means they are considering our arguments, and will make their decision at a later date.
Join the ASU today.
Pass this bulletin to your friends and colleagues at Swissport. If you’re not an ASU member, you are welcome to join us at: www.asu.asn.au/asujoin
Speak to your organiser for more information(download the full bulletin here).