Fed: Workers stand firm on 24-hour freight strike

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2001
Fed: Workers stand firm on 24-hour freight strike

A union has rejected the promise of a $500 Christmas bonus and says it will not stop
a 24-hour strike delaying urgent Christmas cargo.

Attempts by Australia's biggest air freight operators to resolve an enterprise bargaining
dispute in the lead up to Christmas have failed today.

Australian Air Express has attempted to sweeten a wage deal by offering its transport
workers a $500 cash bonus.

The transport union accepted the deal but the union representing the remainder of the
company's employees says attempts to coax members back to work with a similar offer will
be ignored.

Australian Services Union organiser ROD BEALES says members will stop work for 24 hours
from midnight on Friday -- the busiest day of the year for cargo -- if demands for a six
per cent pay rise aren't met.

Australian Air Express -- owned by Qantas and Australia Post -- moves 90 per cent of
Australia's domestic air cargo, including hundreds of tonnes of freight a day.





Australia Post says the strike won't stop Christmas mail getting through, but cargo
including perishables may be lost if freight is left in unrefrigerated storerooms overnight.

AAP RTV jmw/clr/rp

KEYWORD: FREIGHT (MELBOURNE)

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