Qantas in backdown Volunteer plan not cleared for takeoff
QANTAS Airways has backed down from its plan to use staff on a voluntary basis to help out at Sydney International Airport during the busy Christmas and New Year period.
The airline had invited staff from its Mascot headquarters to volunteer for roles in the check-in area, auto-bag drop, arrivals hall and business lounge, providing they had appropriate security passes.
But the plan triggered widespread outrage that a company as big and profitable as Qantas would resort to unpaid labour to cover its bases.
The Australian Services Union led the protests, and NSW secretary Natalie Lang said the union was happy the planned trial had been scrapped.
“Union members fought really hard against that disgraceful move, and we were very successful in getting that terrible idea reversed,” Ms Lang said.
“Where we’ve landed is that no work that is performed in customer service roles at the airport will be performed by volunteers.”
A Qantas spokesman confirmed only senior executives or middle management would be involved in handing out chocolates and bottles of water at Sydney International.
He said the “intent of our volunteer program had always been for head office employees to spread a bit of Christmas cheer and spend more time with customers and airport teams”.
“We recognise that some of the planned activity this year ACCC chair Rod Sims on why the commission has concerns over telcos TPG and Vodafone merging went further than previous years so we have made some changes to the program,” the spokesman said.
“Our team at Sydney International Airport do a fantastic job supporting our customers and our executives are looking forward to supporting them over the Christmas period.”
Ms Lang said the union had also secured the rostering of additional customer service professionals “which is how it always should have been”.
“It’s a wonderful outcome and it was clear the Australian public is committed to the idea of a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work,” she said.
Qantas made a record pretax profit of $1.6 billion the past financial year on an underlying basis, which excludes oneoff items, and paid chief executive Alan Joyce $10.9 million.