NSW: Ansett protesters continue entitlement fight

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2001
NSW: Ansett protesters continue entitlement fight

SYDNEY, Dec 23 AAP - About 150 Ansett workers combined a party with a protest today
at the company's Sydney airport terminal.

The event, organised by the Transport Workers Union, was part of an ongoing campaign
for federal government safeguards to protect workers' entitlements when companies collapse.

Workers dressed in Ansett uniforms marched around the terminal and were then joined
by their families for a Christmas party outside the building.

TWU spokeswoman Trish Bradbury said today's action marked the 101st day of the union
campaign on entitlements.

She said most of those at the airport today had accepted and received their redundancy payments.

Others would work with Tesna Pty Ltd, which will take over ownership of Ansett Mark
II on February 2.

She said the party/march was "a celebration of the campaign but also a way to thank
the Australian people for their support since the Ansett collapse".

Ms Bradbury said the TWU campaign would continue in the new year.

More than 4,500 former Ansett workers have already received their entitlements.

Last week, the first rounds of entitlement instalments were paid out from the federal
government's $195 million Special Employee Entitlements Scheme for Ansett Employees (SEESA).

But, with SEESA capping redundancy payments at eight weeks pay and with the average
Ansett worker owed about 45 weeks, the majority of employees will not receive their full
payouts until Ansett has been sold and its assets recovered.

Earlier today, the TWU's NSW secretary Tony Sheldon told the ABC the campaign would continue.

"Because we are going to be here until the 31st January, until the flights are back
in the air and John Howard knows we aren't going away", he said.

AAP arb/jmd/de

KEYWORD: ANSETT

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.