Employee reward and benefits news
ACTU moves to test 'offshoring' job deal
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is seeking to intervene in a case that could set an important precedent to affect employee rewards and benefits in the future.
This dispute has arisen between the Australian International Pilots Association and Qantas owing to recruitment policies.
The pilots union has contended that the airline is inappropriately using a New Zealand subsidiary to offshore jobs.
Qantas' offshoot JetConnect is continuing to hire pilots at a lower pay scale even though the service has stopped flights in New Zealand and only provides a connection between Australia and New Zealand, claimed the pilots association.
Meanwhile, a captain employed with Qantas draws a salary of about $160,000 a year, one hired by JetConnect earns a little more than $110,000.
Captain Richard Woodward, the association's vice-president, said: "We appeal to Qantas to step back from the brink and reject this proposed business model, with its focus on offshoring Australian jobs and circumventing Australian industrial laws."
Posted by Peter Chad
