“After Australian taxpayers gave Qantas more than $2 billion in support to retain their staff during COVID-19,it seems like a slap in the face that Australian workers have been denied this work,” O’Toole said.
The association surveyed its members in March 2023 to see whether they would consider amending their rest entitlements to secure one third of the flying on the JFK route. According to an email from the association to its members,the confidential survey was prompted by a request from Qantas to consider the proposal.
The New Zealand-based flight attendants – who are employed by Qantas subsidiary Jet Connect – recently voted to reduce the minimum amount of rest airlines are required to provide staff in the event of an 18 hour flight from 50 hours to 40 hours. The association believes this is the reason the New Zealand staff were chosen to work the route.
“It is a slippery slope to chase destinations by reducing your conditions. Of course our members would like to go to New York and carry Australians,but at what cost. The community should be outraged that after making $2.5 billon in profit,Qantas would choose and encourage work groups to reduce agreed conditions,” O’Toole said.