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Qantas, Jetstar to stand down 20,000 workers due to coronavirus, Alan Joyce says national carrier's future is at stake

By business reporter Nassim Khadem
Updated about an hour ago

Video: TWU boss Michael Kaine slams Qantas for forcing workers to bail out airline (ABC News)

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Senior management executives and the board have given up their salaries until at least the end of this financial year.

They will join the chairman Richard Goyder and Mr Joyce in taking no pay.

The payment of a $201 million shareholder dividend will be deferred until September.

Qantas in a fight for survival, Joyce says

Mr Joyce told reporters that despite the Federal Government's $715 million stimulus .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-17/coronavirus-airline-support-package-qantas-rex/12064316 .. aimed at airlines, more aircraft and more people could be stood down.

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Union says Qantas forcing workers to bail it out

Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine said Qantas was forcing its workforce to bail it out, by standing them down and seizing future leave balances that were yet to be accrued.

"It means when the airline returns to profitability, its share price will soar and executives will return to massive bonuses on the back of workers sacrificing their entitlements," he said.

"The Qantas announcement today amounts to workers bailing out the airline."

Qantas responded to the statement, saying, if airlines kept paying workers when there was no work there would not be any airlines left to employ their members.

"The coronavirus is the biggest crisis to ever face global aviation, and the TWU would rather criticise the company and grandstand than work with us to weather the storm," a Qantas spokeswoman said.

Video: Question of whether to close schools divides medical experts (ABC News)
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-18/7.30-tuesday-1732020/12066822

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-19/qantas-to-stand-down-two-thirds-of-employees-due-to-coronavirus/12069876