Thousands rally to save Ansett jobs

BY NICK EVERETT

Thousands of Ansett workers have rallied in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to protest the jobs and entitlements they have lost as a result of the aviation giant's collapse.

In Melbourne, 4000 workers from nine different unions covering Ansett employees rallied outside the State Library on September 14, where they heard ACTU secretary Greg Combet pledge that the union federation would "not stop until every cent owed to Ansett workers was paid".

Labor figures, including Victorian treasurer John Brumby and federal industrial relations spokesperson Arch Bevis, also spoke, claiming the collapse was entirely the federal government's making but avoiding any mention of the destabilising impact of the Hawke Labor government's deregulation of the domestic airline industry.

Bevis pledged that if elected Labor "will introduce into parliament laws to guarantee 100% of [workers'] entitlements".

In Sydney, more than 2000 angry workers from Ansett and Traveland rallied in Martin Place, where they heard from ACTU president Sharan Burrow and ALP oppositon leader Kim Beazley.

Ansett workers held placards portraying CEO Gary Toomey as a devil with horns, above a caption "We absolutely screwed you", mocking Ansett's advertising slogan.

Burrow told the crowd, "We will pursue Air New Zealand in every court on the planet", to cheers from Ansett workers.

Beazley claimed that a Labor government would have provided funds to allow Ansett to remain in operation until a new buyer had been found.

In Brisbane, Kerry Burns reports, over 1500 workers rallied in King George Square, many calling on the federal government to simply take over the failed airline.

A huge cheer erupted when it was announced that Qantas workers had gone out on strike in support. The Transport Workers Union led the march to Air New Zealand's offices on Adelaide Street.

From GLW issue 464