Qantas Airways' (ASX:QAN) outsourcing tactics have created "dangerously low" aviation standards for both workers and travelers, Australia's Transport Workers' Union (TWU) said Thursday as it announced protests at airports across the country.
While the company previously directly employed all of its workers, it now has them scattered across dozens of subsidiaries and labor hire firms in a "tactic used to dismantle pay and conditions," the union said.
It pointed to safety and wage concerns in Qantas' use of ground handling companies like Swissport and Star Aviation, claiming that this outsourcing has created "a dysfunctional aviation sector for the travelling public."
"With negotiations underway across ground handling, cabin crew, pilots, security and catering, thousands of aviation workers will soon have the potential right to take protected industrial action, with Qantas Freight workers now gearing up for action," the TWU said.
Qantas Airways toldthat Swissport works for many airlines, including Virgin Australia (ASX:VGN). It added that there is currently no strike action impacting Qantas operations.