• a more "flexible" workforce, including casuals, labour hire and part-time employment
  
• a plan to rearrange the company into discrete profit centres
  
• the introduction of a value based (code for 'low cost') airline, to compete with the Virgin market
  
• over a third of the $1 billion savings are to come from labour

The casualisation issue is a moving feast

Qantas' plans to casualise 25% - and perhaps up to 45% - of its workforce was big news when it was announce a fortnight ago. The position now appears to have changed somewhat - perhaps not surprisingly looking at the reaction of Unions and the considerable commotion in the press caused by the announcement.

Now it would appear that when Geoff Dixon talked about plans to casualise 25% of the workforce, he meant that this would include part-time permanent positions as well.

Why the change?

When Qantas took the provocative step of injecting labour hire employees onto the Melbourne ramp a fortnight ago they did not anticipate that all unions would act so swiftly to support one another. Qantas management severely miscalculated when they made it obvious that they had 50 or so strike-breakers ready to take members jobs on the Melbourne - when all the other unions found out Qantas was employing this strategy it strengthened their resolve to support the Transport Workers Union members on the ramp who were protesting the move. The Company was forced to back down.

The solidarity amongst unions has continued from that point and during the briefing by Geoff Dixon, Greg Combet, Secretary of the ACTU, made it clear to Dixon that all the Unions are sticking together to ensure the airline continues to be an employer that has real jobs with decent wages and conditions.

The unions reminded Dixon that they way we have dealt with the need for change in the past is through constructive negotiations and consultation, not by one party introducing what was clearly a strategy based on confrontation - e.g. announcing to the media their intention introducing casual workers without any prior discussion with the unions. We also made clear that a one size fits all approach is not going to work and that the company must sit down with unions so we can co-jointly find a means to ensure the company's needs within the different parts of the business. Qantas cannot make unilateral decisions that will harm our members without a reaction.

We can't let down our guard

Qantas management may have softened their approach for now - but as many people know, their agenda for workplace change has always been executed with a fair degree of aggression. All unions have stressed to management that we are open to change and we are here to discuss how to move forward in a productive way - we don't want any MUA/Reith style tactics in our industry.

To ensure that we are ready if necessary to put pressure on the company to change its stance - we need members to not only keep informed by to help us be organised. If you think you could help out talk to your local delegate.