JETSTAR MUST RETURN TO NEGOTIATING TABLE

Federal Labor is urging Jetstar to do right by its workers and return to the enterprise bargaining negotiating table.
 
Today I was proud to meet with Jetstar workers at Sydney Airport who explained to me their concerns about Jetstar’s conduct.
 
These are the same workers who when the company was in trouble accepted a pay freeze for 18 months.
 
Now the company is doing well again and it should be bargaining with them in good faith.
 
Last week the company left the table and has put forward a take-it-or-leave-it offer that includes cuts to leave and entitlements.
 
Jetstar workers are the lowest paid workers in the Qantas Group but this is not simply a pay dispute.
 
This is also a battle against underemployment.
 
Many Jetstar workers are guaranteed no more than 20 hours work per week.
 
But Jetstar has rejected their claims for a guaranteed minimum 30 hours a week and stable rosters that don’t constantly change.
 
As a result, many workers are struggling to make ends meet.
 
These are good, loyal workers - but they have been put in a situation where they have no choice but to stand up for themselves.
 
No one wants disruptive industrial action. That’s why Jetstar must return to the bargaining table.
 
MONDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2020