Adam Bandt MP  Federal Member for Melbourne

16 February 2012

Qantas cuts mean Fair Work Act must change: Bandt

Greens MP and industry and employment spokesperson Adam Bandt has said Qantas decision to cut  jobs was made possible by Australia’s unfair industrial relations laws. Qantas used an industrial atom  bomb last year to avoid bargaining over job security by maintenance workers, Mr Bandt said.

Mr Bandt said his bill to amend the Fair Work Act would make job security an object of the Fair Work  Act and limit employers’ ability to use lockouts as a legal tactic.

“Qantas is continuing its off-shoring plan”, Mr Bandt said.

“Qantas was only able to avoid job security claims from its workforce by using the industrial atom  bomb of grounding its airlines last year.”

“My bill will put job security at the heart of the Fair Work Act and prevent employers from using  Qantas-style lockouts as an industrial tactic.”

Mr Bandt’s Fair Work Amendment (Job Security and Fairer Bargaining) Bill 2012 will be introduced to  Parliament on February 27.

Information: Damien Lawson 0487 900 005

