A Nice Qantas Win

• Airlines
• 22nd September 2015

Allowance to compensate for massive inconvenience during airport upgrade

Getting more money for our Qantas members is never an easy exercise but we had a bit of a win recently and I was keen to get it into The Wheel.

Since last December the airport has been undergoing a major upgrade and the place has been a virtual construction site.

With all the noise, dust, scaffolding, concrete trucks, dreadful smells and other building activities it hasn’t been a comfortable place to work.

Members suggested we apply for a special disability allowance to compensate for the difficulties that confront them daily.

We thought: nothing ventured nothing gained and put the proposal to local Qantas management on behalf of the Qantas and QGS troops.

The local bosses agreed to consider our suggestion and we were pleased when they agreed to a 50 cents per hour payment.

Unfortunately things turned sour when the heavies and bean counters over East knocked the idea on the head.

Soon after that we heard the annual salary with bonuses of Qantas CEO Alan Joyce had been increased to an obscene $12 million.

But we didn’t chuck the towel in. With the backing of our hard-working delegates Shane Dearie and Mark Bebich we got Qantas to honour their original offer.

Fifty cents per hour may not sound much but it adds up and will now be back paid to December last year.

As I said at the beginning, any win is a good win when you are dealing with Qantas.