Qantas staff threaten strike action over outsourced labour

Thousands of Qantas staff have threatened strike action to prevent the airline giant’s outsourcing of cheap labour.

The influential Transport Workers Union said last night airline refuellers, baggage and transport staff had joined pilots and engineers to support controversial "job security" clauses aimed at limiting the use of cheaper contract workers.

The Australian newspaper reports industrial action would involve 9000 union members, with the union signalling it would seek annual four per cent pay rises and extra employer superannuation contributions from Qantas.

"Over the past few years, Qantas has made it clear to the workforce that the undermining of wages and conditions and job security is part of its business model," the union's federal secretary, Tony Sheldon, told The Australian.

"Job security will, without a doubt, be part of these negotiations with our workplace committee, and if a settlement is not reached, industrial action is definitely on the table and will be put to the members," Sheldon said.

The company, which recently increased fuel surcharges, yesterday reiterated its opposition to the job security clauses, the paper said.

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