President’s Opinion

Workers are the backbone of any society. They provide the essential services, they keep the economy ticking over and they also allow companies and corporations to make profits and provide the high quality service that delivers that profit. Yet increasingly workers are being hung out to dry with little or no protections at all. We are seeing it, not just in Australia, but all around the world.

The terrible Helios Airways crash that occurred in Greece in 2005 is a classic example of employees taking responsibility for a terrible, systemic failure of a company.  A number of employees involved in the maintenance and flight operations were put on trial both in Cyprus and in Greece, charged with negligent manslaughter. The employees have since been acquitted in Cyprus but incredibly they have been found guilty in Greece.

Persecuting individuals without foundation does nothing to keep our industry safe or provide safeguards against further accidents. What we need to see is airlines ensuring and taking responsibility for best practice in their workplaces. It is this, and not the criminalisation of workers that will keep all those who fly safe.  

Back on our doorstep we are seeing workers bear the brunt of the continuing self-interestedness of employers. Qantas is still yet to confirm its final plans for maintenance facilities at Tullamarine, Avalon and Brisbane but it has confirmed that at least one heavy maintenance facility will be lost following the latest review of the airline.