Ever since Qantas announced the creation of a new Qantas international entity when they announced the company results, Qantas unions have been seeking clarification about whether the new company would be an employing entity and whether it would affect the terms and conditions of existing employees' working in the Qantas international business.
The ACTU on behalf of Qantas unions wrote to Qantas CEO Alan Joyce on 24th October asking if the new company was going to employ staff and if it was what the arrangements would be.
The ACTU received a letter back from the company dated 11th November 2014 which states the following:
"Dear David
Thank you for your letter of 24 October 2014, regarding the creation of a new company for Qantas' international operations.
The creation of a new international entity does not require the transfer of staff from Qantas Airways Limited to the new entity. Our employees will continue to perform work for the international organisation under their existing arrangements with their current employer.
The process for the creation of the new company is in its early stages and Qantas will keep the ACTU and unions informed of progress.
Yours sincerely
ALAN JOYCE"
This letter is important as it says that ASU covered employees will continue to work under our Qantas EBA 10 agreement rates and conditions and that the ACTU and unions will be informed of any progress with the company. On this important issue we will all be working together.
At this stage we take the correspondence as a positive sign from the company, but as always we will monitor this if and when the issue develops.
We do have a written commitment from Qantas NOT to utilise subsidiaries to do our work in airports and freight which would cover any Qantas international company so we also rely on this EBA 10 commitment from Qantas for this new company.
Qantas can always be tricky and problematic so as always we will remain vigilant to any changes they propose in company structures.
Need more information?
For further information please contact your local ASU delegate or ASU organiser in your state (download the full bulletin below for details).
Qantas Group Bulletin, 24 November 2014