The Australian Workers Union is claiming public support in its campaign to keep maintenance jobs onshore after a poll of 656 people across Australia found 87% of those aged 14 and over preferred to have the long-haul maintenance facilities in Australia.
Australian Workers Union national secretary Bill Shorten, who commissioned the poll, said he was surprised by the response.
“Clearly, there is a strong view that Qantas should have Australian-based operations and what they would do if they sent the work overseas is take a hit on their loyalty,” he said.
He said a non-union pollster conducted the survey to ensure its credibility. The union also wanted to separate the issue from enterprise bargaining negotiations under way with Qantas.
“We went for a conservative pollster … If Qantas is a flexible organisation they will have to listen to it,” Mr Shorten said.
