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Qantas to lay off another 2,000 workers
Qantas has defended its decision to cut another 2,000 jobs and replace them with outsourced labour.
Despite heavy criticism, the airline will lay off 2,000 ground crew, baggage handlers and aircraft cleaners at 10 airports.
"COVID has turned aviation upside down," Qantas Domestic and International CEO Andrew David said in a statement.
"Airlines around the world are having to make dramatic decisions in order to survive and the damage will take years to repair."
The plan was first mooted in August when Qantas said it needed to restructure ground handling operations to meet the challenges of the Covid pandemic.
It believes it can save up to $100 million a year by restructuring.
The Transport Workers Union had submitted a competing bid using the existing workforce but it was rejected by the airline.
"Even with the involvement of a large accounting firm, the bid falls well short of what the specialist external providers were able to come up with," David said.
Labor’s industrial relations spokesman Tony Burke slammed the airline.
"Two thousand Australians who have given tremendous loyalty to Qantas for their working lives have now discovered that loyalty is not repaid," Burke said.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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