The NSW Parliament Upper House recently voted to condemn Qantas for outsourcing the jobs of 2,400 workers and called on the airline to immediately reverse its decision. I successfully moved the Labor motion, despite being opposed by the Berejiklian Government, winning with 23-17 votes.
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The motion criticised Qantas for outsourcing these jobs during a global pandemic, after taking over $800 million dollars of taxpayer's money, which was intended to keep staff employed.
The work performed by these long-time and hardworking employees of Qantas still needs to be carried out. Qantas blindsided these workers by choosing to sell off their jobs to the lowest bidders through outsourcing to companies that engage other workers on lower rates and conditions.
It is disgraceful that Qantas is outsourcing a major portion of these jobs to Swissport, which is a foreign-owned company that I believe has set horrendous conditions for its workers. Swissport has reportedly made staff work while injured, has had a terrible safety record and has used broken and faulty equipment in their operations. Swissport has been exposed in the media previously over their workers being forced to sleep on airport floors due to their gruelling split shift system.
The Transport Workers Union has been fighting extremely hard to save these workers' livelihoods. These jobs have been done by Qantas workers for 100 years and the jobs should not go to a foreign company. Outsourcing will only lower the safety and service standards and none of us want to see that happen to the airline we travel on.
A large number of the impacted workers live in our southern suburbs. I have met with them and it was devastating to hear how they are anxious and deeply worried about how they will now support their families. Many of these skilled workers have dedicated their lives to working for Qantas, frequently spending
Christmas and weekends away from their families. They are extremely frustrated that their jobs are being outsourced and are profoundly concerned for the future safety of the airline.
Qantas cannot blame the Covid-19 pandemic for laying off these workers. Executives are still being paid millions. The Sydney Morning Herald also revealed an internal company document from 2010, which demonstrated the airline's plan from over a decade ago to outsource these jobs by 2020.
My mum worked for Qantas for 24 years and my sister still works for them now as a Flight Attendant. She has been fortunate enough to have kept her job. These 2400 loyal Qantas staff also deserve to keep their jobs.
Abandoning dedicated workers during a pandemic and outsourcing their jobs to a foreign company is heartless. Qantas should listen to the majority of the NSW Parliament Upper House and immediately reverse the dreadful decision to outsource jobs. Prime Minister Scott Morrison should also stop ignoring these workers, many of them reside in the electorate that he was elected to represent. He should hold Qantas management to account, instead of standing by and allowing this to occur when he has handed the airline almost a billion dollars of taxpayer's money that was meant for saving jobs.
