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🗞️TWU Demands Bonza to Immediately Pay Workers' Wages

🗞️TWU Demands Bonza to Immediately Pay Workers' Wages

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The Transport Workers' Union (TWU) has urged Bonza's administrators to exhaust all possible options in order to promptly compensate employees for their April wages. Currently, workers have been informed that they will not receive payment for their work during April and are currently on unpaid leave. Workers at Bonza have the option to register on the TWU's website to receive updates, as the union is actively seeking information from Bonza's administrators. The TWU played a significant role in the management of Virgin Australia's administration process and has provided assistance to numerous road transport workers in accessing support following their employers' insolvency. The union expressed that the government's Fair Entitlement Guarantee scheme could potentially provide crucial support for workers in the event of Bonza's insolvency. However, at present, they find themselves in a state of uncertainty and indecision. The TWU is advocating for the establishment of a Safe and Secure Skies Commission in order to stabilise the aviation sector and prevent further loss of employment, expertise, and skills within the industry.

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According to TWU National Assistant Secretary Emily McMillan, Bonza's actions are disgraceful and have caused significant distress for workers. The recent occurrence of Bonza going into administration has had a minimal impact on workers, who are now compelled to join the Centrelink queues. The failure of Bonza to adequately support workers is deeply shocking, and it is unfortunate that aviation workers are once again bearing the consequences of a dysfunctional industry. "These individuals are diligent and industrious, burdened with financial obligations and responsible for providing sustenance for their families." They possess extensive training. This is a catastrophic setback and a source of significant concern in a situation of escalating living expenses. "Bonza's administrators must exert maximum effort to urgently find the means to compensate these workers." Nothing is more important than this. "Following the collapse of Ansett, workers staged protests at airports for a duration exceeding 100 days in order to demand the entitlements that were owed to them." Currently, workers have the option to utilise the Fair Entitlement Guarantee scheme to obtain their entitlements in the event of their employer's insolvency. However, the aviation industry has remained unchanged, continuing to experience the same level of disorder and devastation. Passengers' trust in air travel has diminished, and workers have been repeatedly disillusioned by this industry, leading them to leave. Aviation has become unmanageable. Despite Qantas earning a substantial profit of $3.72 billion over a period of 18 months, and the four largest airports generating $1.7 billion in the previous year, the employees responsible for ensuring the safe takeoff of planes are being unfairly deprived of their rightful wages for the work they have performed. This must be altered. "We require the establishment of a Safe and Secure Skies Commission to establish aviation standards, put an end to the detrimental effects of corporate avarice on this sector, and reintroduce high-quality, secure employment opportunities in our airports," she stated.

Meanwhile, The TWU’s rank-and-file National Council has elected former Chief of Campaigns Emily McMillan as the union’s first female National Assistant Secretary.

It follows the election of former National Assistant Secretary Nick McIntosh as NSW/Queensland interim governance Branch Assistant Secretary to work with members of the TWU’s largest branch to utilise new legislative powers in road transport and to rebuild aviation.

Emily McMillan, a First Nations woman, was unanimously endorsed by the National Committee of Management and elected unopposed by the National Council after eight years leading national campaigns for the TWU and 21 years as a union official.

Next week, the TWU’s annual National Council meeting will take place in Fremantle, WA. The union’s rank-and-file governing body will discuss the plan ahead to best utilise reform recently passed by Federal Parliament to set enforceable standards in road transport, including the transport gig economy.

In aviation, the council will discuss the plan to rebuild good, secure jobs following the High Court ruling that Qantas illegally sacked 1700 ground and cleaning workers. The TWU is campaigning for a Safe and Secure Skies Commission to rebalance the industry.

The council meeting will be opened by WA Minister for Road Safety and Assisting Minister for Transport Hon David Michael MLA, followed by a keynote address from National Secretary Michael Kaine. Minister for Industrial Relations Hon Tony Burke MP and ACTU Assistant Secretary Joseph Mitchell will address the National Council dinner on Thursday, while Senators Glenn Sterle and Tony Sheldon will join panel discussions throughout the week.

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🗞️TWU Demands Bonza to Immediately Pay Workers' Wages

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