URGENT BULLETIN: To all AWU members at Qantas

29 October 2011

The Australian Workers’ Union is as shocked as the travelling public by this extraordinary and unprecendented act by Qantas.

Words can’t express our anger at the unilateral decision Qantas management has taken – as well as the impact it will have on all Qantas workers and the thousands of travellers now left stranded in Australia and around the world.

Unions rightly give 72 hours notice before industrial action, but Qantas management has given no notice before this wildcat grounding of their fleet.

Make no mistake: this is an ambush on the Australian people.

We deal with large corporations day in and day out, and one thing we know is that they don’t make decisions like this on the spot.

I’ve already told Qantas that we believe their action is irresponsible, unnecessary and endangering future viability of airline.

At no stage did Qantas request for the Government to intervene – nor use many of the other provisions under the Fair Work Act which could have resolved this dispute earlier.

Let me be clear: the AWU will not stand by and allow our members at Qantas to be unfairly impacted by this decision.

We understand that at this stage, the lockout does not begin until 8pm, Monday 31 October 2011.

Members should also be aware that the Federal Government has now applied to Fair Work Australia to suspend the lockout – we should know the outcome of this application within the next few hours.

The AWU leadership will meet tomorrow morning, the ACTU leadership is meeting this evening and we will notify members of next steps by 11am tomorrow, Sunday 30 October 2011.

We have attached correspondence received by the union from Qantas at 5:15pm today for your reference.

Further information will be provided to members and delegates from their Branch Organiser over the next day.