The Australian Services Union slammed Qantas for creating new call centre positions in New Zealand when its Melbourne call centre operations are set to close mid next year.
ASU Victorian Assistant Branch Secretary, David Leydon, said that the union has sought transparency from the company throughout the process but that this shows that Qantas is going back on its commitment to Australian jobs.
“Hundreds of Victorians have lost their jobs and Qantas initial plan to relocate workers to Tasmania is all but dog-whistling.
“We know that 450 Tasmanians have also applied for jobs, what is Qantas’ excuse to creating these positions in New Zealand?
“If Qantas believes it needs more positions to be reinstated why would it not start in the affected areas? Qantas is not committed to Australian jobs.
“Off-shoring keeps happening even amidst a jobs crisis. Big companies like Qantas need to be committed to their Australian workforce.
“The ASU and Victorian workers are not asking for much. We simply ask for funding and commitment to be invested in local jobs for the future of Victorians and their families,” Mr Leydon said.
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