Qantas flights under threat

Press, 24 September 1980, Page 6

Qantas flights under threat

NZPA Sydney Qantas and its airport ground staff were last evenng headed for open confrontation on a “scab labour” issue, all of today’s international flights out of Australia being at risk. Qantas gave warning that it would suspend its ground staff — who also service virtually all other international airlines in Australia — if they went ahead with 24 hours of bans against Qantas, from 6. a.m. today.

Combined airport unions, led by. the Australasian ’Society of Engineers and with Australian Council of Trade Unions support, have decided to apply the vital aircraft mechanical servicing bans against Qantas Boeing

747 s arriving today in retaliation for Qantas’s use of staff labour during a recent airport stoppage by security officers.

In reply, Qantas sent a telegram to the A.C.T.U. in Melbourne which said, in part: “The management is not prepared to accept the proposed work limitations and will follow past practice of suspending any or all employees who refuse to carry out normal work.” Only one Qantas, flight from Christchurch is scheduled today, but this is unlikely to be affected. The airline’s manager in Christchurch, Mr D._ S. Menzies, said last evening that flight QFBB was. expected to leave for Melbourne on time at 9.30 a.m.