Virgin Australia has been accused of standing down 804 workers by a union after the government stopped Jobkeeper – but the airline says the claims are ‘categorically false’.
The Transport Workers’ Union on Wednesday said they filed a complaint against the airline with the Fair Work Commission after ground workers were stood down following the axing of the wage subsidy.
The union said Virgin workers were told they would only be rostered to work partially over the coming weeks – and they wouldn’t be getting their minimum hours.
Virgin Australia disputed the claims, with a spokeswoman telling Daily Mail Australia that only about 170 ground staff are impacted and none of them are actually fully stood down.
Virgin Australia has been accused of standing down 804 workers by a union after the government stopped Jobkeeper – but the airline says the claims are ‘categorically false’ (stock image)
‘Virgin Australia is aware that the Transport Workers Union (TWU) has filed a dispute with the Fair Work Commission (FWC) in relation to approximately 170 of its ground staff,’ the spokeswoman said.
‘The majority of ground staff affected are currently working close to their full normal hours.
‘Reports that Virgin Australia has fully stood down its ground crew in the wake of Job Keeper ending today are categorically false – none are fully stood down.’
The spokeswoman said the airline is working hard to ‘ramp up’ flying to ‘enable more hours and roster flexibility across our operational workforce’.
‘Prior to the tightened border restrictions put in place by some states earlier this week, it has been our intention to have all of our ground staff return to work in their pre-Covid capacity,’ the spokeswoman said.
But TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said the ‘aviation is teetering on the brink’ and will not be able to ‘bounce back’ as long as the pandemic endures.
Mr Kaine said the workers were stood down as a ‘direct result of the government’s decision to kill Jobkeeper’.
‘The prime minister’s cheap flights plan turned out to be a cheap trick played on aviation workers,’ he said.
The Transport Workers’ Union on Wednesday said they filed a complaint against the airline with the Fair Work Commission after ground workers were stood down following the axing of the wage subsidy (stock image)
‘The federal government’s decision to cut off Jobkeeper has resulted in Virgin workers being stood down from their jobs.
‘This disastrous move by Scott Morrison means domestic aviation workers have been cut adrift and Virgin workers are now worried sick about how they will pay their bills and feed their families.’
The prime minister is offering 800,000 discounted airline tickets as part of his $1.2 billion stimulus package for the shattered tourism industry.
The government-subsidised tickets will be offered over the scheme’s duration which includes the Easter and winter school holidays.
Return flights to eligible locations will receive a 50 per cent discount between April 1 and July 31.
‘The TWU and seven other aviation unions wrote to Scott Morrison when he made his cheap flights announcement warning that jobs in aviation would be put at risk,’ Mr Kaine said.
‘Just a few days after Jobkeeper died we are already seeing the effect.
Virgin Australia disputed the claims, with a spokeswoman telling Daily Mail Australia that only about 170 ground staff are impacted and none of them are actually fully stood down. Pictured: Virgin Australia employees are seen at Sydney Airport
‘The prime minister has refused to meet aviation workers to hear why a wage subsidy, even with short term extensions, is vital.
‘Instead he cooked up a plan along with the CEO of Qantas to give a wage subsidy only to international aviation workers but, surprise, surprise, Qantas are the only ones getting it since Virgin has no international crew remaining.
‘We are again asking the prime minister to save jobs in aviation and to reverse the decision to kill Jobkeeper.’
The TWU said a survey of over 900 aviation workers earlier in March found that the jobs of almost 90 per cent continue to be affected by the pandemic with only 11 per cent back to working in their jobs with normal hours.
According to NCA NewsWire, Virgin wrote an email to pit crew to advise they would be stood down from March 29 to April 18 unless advised otherwise.
‘During the stand down, you remain employed but are not required to attend work for the hours you are stood down, and you will not be paid for those hours,’ head of aircraft maintenance and ramp services Job VandenHeuvel wrote.
The email said workers could continue to accrue leave entitlements and they could elect to convert the stand-down period to paid annual leave or long service leave.
