Click here to get the latest on the breakdown of negotiations with QANTAS. 

QANTAS was fast out of the blocks attacking workers to the business community, with CEO Alan Joyce accusing unions of a 'kamikaze campaign that could seriously damage the airline.' The company has used this attack on your unions and you as a way of deflecting attention from their poor management of one of Australia's most iconic brands.

And what could be worse than management getting rid of 1,000 dedicated employees? Of course, no one is under any illusion that the real number of layoffs will be much higher if the company can get away with it.

The negotiating committee from Queensland includes Peter Seage, Grant Mitchell, Billy Taylor, and Wayne Bailey, who have been travelling to Sydney and Melbourne weekly to meet with Qantas' senior management representatives. 'We've got a log of claims that we're trying to work through, but it doesn't help when they're out in the media misleading the public,' Wayne said. 'Publically attacking the workers' pay and conditionsdoes not make for ideal negotiating conditions.'

The company has spent much of the year defending numerous scandals regarding safety and the way it is compromising its brand. Following the launch of Neil Perry's new menu line, Qantas was forced to admit that its business meals were in fact frozen and not fresh as advertised. The members' safety concerns at Q-Catering reported in the last issue of this journal were referred to CASA.

An investigation was launched and five safety breaches were identified. Despite these proven breaches, CASA did not penalise Qantas, so your union has lodged a freedom-of-information application to expose the truth.

Without transparency, there is no accountability.

The company has recently stepped up its campaign to mislead the Australian public when it comes to its negotiating tactics. 'It's mind-blowing that they have spent at least 10 million dollars on their advertising campaign to get the public onside,' delegate Peter Seage said. 'But the reality is that it is a diversion to the fact that they plan to cut 1,000 jobs.

'Qantas talks about improving productivity to stay competitive, but over the last 10 years, our productivity has risen dramatically: gangs reduced from six to five to four, but we haven't seen any comparable pay increases. There has to be give and take in any negotiation, but Qantas just wants to take and not give anything back.'

The company continues to attack your conditions but the management benefits keep getting better. In the last year Qantas' top nine executives received a 58 per cent pay rise, but are unwilling to commit to your job security or the improvements in wages and conditions being asked for by the negotiating committee.

'They hide behind the word "flexibility", but it's a cost- cutting exercise,' Peter said. 'They're just trying to pay people less to do the same job.

'Joyce better understand that we're not making unreasonable demands, and we're not backing down. This is going to be a big fight and the rank and file are ready to fight this to the death.'

Find out more at the National TWU website here.