News
ASU news
BEFORE the pandemic hit, Australian airlines carried roughly five million passengers on domestic routes each month. The Morrison government’s announcement of 800,000 discounted airline tickets as a replacement for the axed JobKeeper program is therefore being rightfully treated with scorn and anger – it represents less than two weeks of…
Don’t Close the Door – Save Homelessness Services
16 March 2021
Today the ASU launched our campaign with members across Australia to Save Homelessness Services and demand the Federal Government – Don’t Close the Door! The Federal Government is set to cut funding to homelessness services by over $50million. This is because they are refusing to continue to cover the costs…
Government turns its back on airline workers
11 March 2021
The Australian Services Union today condemned the Federal Government’s replacement for JobKeeper as “welfare for business”. Emeline Gaske, Assistant National Secretary of the Australian Services Union - the largest union representing workers in the aviation industry - said the Government’s decision not to tie industry assistance to jobs was a…
Shift cancellations due to lockdown/border closures
11 March 2021
ASU delegates and officials have been meeting regularly with Virgin to deal with member concerns about shift cancellations due to lockdown/border closures and other resourcing issues. While we all hope that there will be no further snap lockdowns and border closures, and that Virgin’s flying schedule will become more predictable,…
Qantas results show JobKeeper extension & AviationKeeper needed NOW
25 February 2021
Today Qantas released their half year revenue figures publically. What this shows is the urgent need for government action across aviation in Australia to Keep Australia Flying. JobKeeper and a loyal workforce have kept Qantas going through the COVID-19 crisis. But the crisis in aviation is not over. We need…
Keep Australia Flying – campaign launch
23 February 2021
The ASU is campaigning for ongoing income support and wage subsidies for the aviation sector to make sure aviation workers and our industry are supported through this crisis and the COVID-19 recovery. We have launched our campaign to Keep Australia Flying because nobody should be left behind by this crisis.…
CORPORATE & HEAD OFFICE RESTRUCTURE
28 January 2021
ASU members are very concerned about recent announcements regarding redundancies in Virgins Corporate and Head Office teams. Yesterday, Virgin announced 350 redundancies at its Corporate and Head Office in Brisbane. We condemn this decision and the way the announcement was handled. The company made the announcement before notifying the ASU…
ASU lodges Stand Down dispute
20 January 2021
The ASU has lodged a Stand Down dispute with Jetstar in the Fair Work Commission because the airline continues to make last minute changes to rosters, as well as recall staff to work at short notice – sometimes to work single shifts. Jetstar has also reneged on commitments made to…
GUEST SERVICES RESOURCING UPDATE
07 January 2021
ASU members have raised a number of urgent concerns about the way rosters are being managed in local ports. ASU officials met with Virgin today to raise your concerns including issues with unworkable roster patterns, unpredictable hours of work, ability to opt out of rosters, as well as recognition of…
TODAY ASU members win! ALL associated degrees for Social and community services workers now protected by the Professional Pathway and will be exempt from government fee increases. Earlier this year the Federal government proposed DOUBLING university fees for community services degrees (e.g. Social Work, Human Services, Mental Health, Social Sciences,…