On 24 March 2021, Qantas informed the USU/ASU that it planned to proceed with the closure of the Sales Desk on 16 April. Qantas has decided to implement a staged approach to the sales, service and baggage desk restructure, which will limit the opportunities for jobs swaps and redeployment available to employees.
Accordingly, Qantas has advised the USU/ASU that it will ask employees impacted by the closure of the sales desk for an expression of interest (‘EOI’) in redundancy or redeployment. Other employees affected by the Airports and Lounges restructures (such as baggage desk and service desk employees) will not be asked to make an EOI at this time.
At the consultation meeting on Monday, 22 March 2021, the USU/ASU told Qantas that the EOI process should happen when it is ready to implement the restructure in each area, not in a staged way – so that all affected employees could make their EOI at the same time, maximising the opportunities for job swaps and redeployment.
Instead, Qantas has decided to go ahead with the sales desk closure and EOI. The EOI will be open from 25 March 2021 until 7 April 2021. The USU/ASU encourages members to fill out an EOI. Members should read the EOI carefully before completing it. The EOI gives members three choices:
- Voluntary redundancy;
- Redeployment within the business unit; or
- Redeployment within the Qantas Group.
If you wish to remain in Sales, do not check any box, but write on your EOI that you want to remain in Sales.
The USU/ASU will keep fighting to protect skilled, high quality jobs at Qantas.
Please share this with your friends at Qantas who aren’t members. They can join at www.usu.org.au/join
We know this is a very stressful time, do not hesitate to seek assistance if you need it. Organisations like Lifeline 131114 or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 are available if needed.
If you have any questions about this email or need any assistance at work, please contact your USU organiser Thomas Russell on 0419 761 320 or via email at trussell@usu.org.au
