Inmates cheaper to use than the disabled, Qantas says

[NickN]

A SYDNEY business that employs disabled workers has lost a lucrative contract reassembling headphones for Qantas because the airline deemed it cheaper to use prisoners.
Sunnyfield Enterprises, which employs more than 300 disabled workers at Allambie Heights, has repackaged the headphones and assembled kits for the national carrier for 15 years.

In September Qantas put the contract out to tender.

Sunnyfield was unsuccessful and the Department of Corrective Services won a three-year contract.

Sunnyfield CEO Frank Francis said the decision was "disappointing".

"Sunnyfield understands that commercial decisions need to be made but is of course disappointed about the outcome as our primary concern is keeping people with disabilities in employment," he said yesterday.

"(We are) very proud of the work we have undertaken for Qantas over the last 15 years, meeting all service requirements and enjoying an excellent track record of service.

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"Sunnyfield is pleased we have come to an agreement with Corrective Services Industries to sub-contract the work to refurbish the headsets."



Mr Francis met Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities Bill Shorten yesterday, who has demanded that Qantas explain its decision.

Mr Shorten and Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes yesterday met representatives from both Qantas and Jetstar regarding their policies for dealing with the disabled, including the recent incident involving Paralympic champion Kurt Fearnley - allegedly denied access to his wheelchair by Jetstar staff.

"Qantas has got a commercial business to run, I get that, I respect that," Mr Shorten said.

"On the other hand, if you've got a service which specialises in employing people with disabilities, and provided the cost of the product or the service delivered is good, and provided the quality is good, it just seems to me that it's a good opportunity for companies to give people an opportunity."

Corrective Services have agreed to sub-contract the economy-class headset work back to Sunnyfield but prisoners will assume responsibility for the first and business class headsets, as well as amenities kits.

Qantas refused to comment yesterday. Its tender outcome was revealed on the same day as Qantas and Jetstar international aircraft engineers vowed to strike in December and January.

The union behind the stopwork ban said the action may impede the airline's ability to put planes in the air.

The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia said the move would inevitably have an impact on Qantas' maintenance schedule.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/tra...-1225811527769


I understand business is business, but how much cheaper can using inmates be over the disabled folk? I would have thought supporting Sunnyfield would be a big thing for Qantas.

[Raymond Rowe]

Prisoners get paid about 7 dollars a week.So it is basically free labour.

[NickN]

The prisoners might get $7 a week but I can guarantee you that's not what the Dpt Of Corrections is billing QF!