The High Court has turned down an application by Qantas workers and their unions to hear an appeal over the airline's abuse of the JobKeeper wage subsidy.
Virgin Australia unions plan merger to impose Bain Capital’s cost-cutting demands
The Virgin Independent Pilots Association (VIPA) and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) confirmed this month that they will amalgamate the two unions by July, subject to a vote of pilots.
Both unions have been talking up the supposed benefits for pilots and other Virgin Australia workers of the merger, but it has nothing to do with defending the jobs and conditions of airline workers.
Its real purpose is to strengthen the capacity of the union bureaucracy to prevent any opposition to the ongoing restructuring drive by Virgin to drastically slash costs at workers’ expense. This has been the agenda implemented from day one by the airline’s new owners, US private equity firm Bain Capital.
Airline workers win JobKeeper extension themorningbulletin.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from themorningbulletin.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Unions NSW, the National Tertiary Education Union, the Electrical Trade Union, Public Service Association, the NSW Nurses, the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, theFlight Attendants Association of Australia, the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, the Hair Stylists Australia and the United Services Union attended. The Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends and Asian Women at Work were also present.
Speakers included Beverly Baker from the Older Women’s Network, Trish Doyle from the Australian Labor Party, Greens MP Jenny Leong and world-record holding marathon swimmer and domestic violence survivor Chloe McCardel.
Leong talked about the need for sexual consent education following a petition launched by 22-year-old Chanel Contos who shared her story of sexual violence at school. It has encouraged thousands of others to share their stories on Teach Us Consent. The petition has received more than 30,000 signatures and more than 2800 testimonies.
Unions take Qantas to High Court over alleged misuse of JobKeeper scheme, underpayment of staff
By business reporters Rachel Pupazzoni and Gareth Hutchens
Posted
TueTuesday 12
updated
TueTuesday 12
The Transport Workers Union says Qantas has been engaging in wage theft.
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Unions are taking their fight against Qantas and its use of the JobKeeper wage subsidy program to the High Court.
Key points:
They will apply for special leave to appeal to the High Court
Their case was dismissed by the Federal Court in December
They say workers have been ripped off by the airline after working public holidays, weekends and overtime during the COVID-19 lockdowns.