Qantas contracting packaging work to cheap prison labour

[haydensydney]

After a retendering process, Qantas contracted the work — sealing earphones in plastic bags — to the NSW Department of Corrective Services, rather than its long-time contractor, Sunnyfield, which employs disabled people.

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/qantas-queried-on-taking-jobs-off-disabled-workers-20091218-l1jw.html

Interesting.... I would feel much better opening earphones that weren't sealed by convicts. An interesting move by QF I must say.

 

[AlphaVictor]

These decisions should not just be made based on the bottom line but a mixture of "value for money" and CSR.

I look forward to the next cost-cutting measure - Engineering provided by Long Bay. Your Lasagna comes courtesy of Pentridge Prison.

 

[Hvr]

These decisions should not just be made based on the bottom line but a mixture of "value for money" and CSR.

I look forward to the next cost-cutting measure - Engineering provided by Long Bay. Your Lasagna comes courtesy of Pentridge Prison.

Actually Pentridge closed several years ago, think Port Phillip Prison now.

I agree with your sentiment though.

 

[drron]

Shawshank revisited?

 

[samh004]

People actually use airline supplied earphones these days? I thought everyone played with their iPods now!

 

[Mal]

Interesting.... I would feel much better opening earphones that weren't sealed by convicts. An interesting move by QF I must say.

I don't really have a problem with it. I'd rather criminals are productive doing something in jail rather than just sitting around.

Would you say the same about coat hangers? car number plates? Clothes?

 

[joeymelb]

I don't really have a problem with it. I'd rather criminals are productive doing something in jail rather than just sitting around.

Would you say the same about coat hangers? car number plates? Clothes?

Jobs contest between prisoners and law-abiding citizen with disability....

Should both group be treated equal? I wonder what Mr Kurt Fearnley would say about this.

Publicity wise, my heart says QA is totally at wrong here whilst my rational brain says QA is a business they are doing whatever they can to survive. Nonetheless, being Christmas season, my heart won out and I felt extremely bad for the disabled workers facing unemployment. (Yes, I know that Bill Shorten forced the Corrective Services to subcontract back to Sunnyfield but the damage has already been done.)

Is Qantas really worthy of the motto "Spirit of Australia", I don't believe my spirit is really that dark and mean... (actually... my wife told me that my spirit is like squid ink... )

 

[aus_flyer]

Who packs the First amenity kits?

Or should that be, which prison?

 

[Mal]

Jobs contest between prisoners and law-abiding citizen with disability....

Should both group be treated equal? I wonder what Mr Kurt Fearnley would say about this.

Qantas put the activity out to tender and chose the supplier who gave a better offer.

Just because the group that did this work previously was disabled workers, does not mean Qantas has an obligation to keep using that supplier.

In fact I feel that it is discrimination to procure a service and ignore lower bidders because they do not employ disabled people.

 

[joeymelb]

Qantas put the activity out to tender and chose the supplier who gave a better offer.

Just because the group that did this work previously was disabled workers, does not mean Qantas has an obligation to keep using that supplier.

In fact I feel that it is discrimination to procure a service and ignore lower bidders because they do not employ disabled people.

The prison population will always have their 3-meal-a-day and suitable accommodation under the watchful eye of the human rights lawyers. Who's looking out for those laborers? Had it not been published on the news/media, those group of people could have been homeless. Those highly paid human rights lawyer would not have given a hoot about the disabled workers.

Qantas - The Spirit of Australia - should live to its name and sometimes saving some money will end up costing millions in damage to the reputation and public perception.

Being a victim of crime to repeated offenders (theft, criminal damages and assault), I am strongly against giving prisoners any chances.

 

[Mal]

Who's looking out for those laborers? Had it not been published on the news/media, those group of people could have been homeless.

The Qantas contract is not the only thing Sunnyfield does - have a look through their website. Sunnyfield - Home

There was no mention of job losses in the article either.

 

[Mal]

Who packs the First amenity kits?

The same contractor as who packs the headsets - ie they're packed in prison.

Also, only the Economy headsets are being repacked by Sunnyfield, I believe the PE/J/F ones are being repacked at the prison.

 

[aus_flyer]

The same contractor as who packs the headsets - ie they're packed in prison.

I think they should label the amenity kits to reflect this information.

Designed by Georg Jensen. Products by Payot. Packaged by criminals.

 

[Mal]

Designed by Georg Jensen. Products by Payot. Packaged by criminals.

Do they contain razors any more? Sure I read recently that the F kit no longer has one ... perhaps we know why!

 

[haydensydney]

I don't really have a problem with it. I'd rather criminals are productive doing something in jail rather than just sitting around.

Would you say the same about coat hangers? car number plates? Clothes?

Your missing the point - QF have done workers with disabilities out of work, in favour of employing criminals. I wonder what Today Tonight / A Current Affair would say about this? :shock:

The penny pinchers amongst the corporate community would squeal with delight at the thought of cutting costs by employing prison labour, but a organisation that constantly reminds the Australian market that they are "the spirit of Australia" should choose community conscience over cost savings.

Would First class passengers rather pay an extra $2 per sector knowing that their headphones were packed by people with a disability (and keeping those disadvantaged people employed), rather than saving $2 to have their headphones packed by prison workers?

Where were the QF PR guru's when this story was leaked? This is awful PR!

 

[Mal]

Your missing the point - QF have done workers with disabilities out of work, in favour of employing criminals.

So prisoners do not have the right to work as well? To get some experience in jail that might help them with re-establishing themselves in the community? If they end up with a job after prison, there is a much lower chance of them re-offending. Also by keeping them occupied, they have less time to cause trouble inside.

Yes, the likes of TT and ACA would love this story - but I don't see the shock value of it.

 

[haydensydney]

So prisoners do not have the right to work as well?

Not at the expense of a community organisation that supports disability workers, sorry. If your dumb enough to commit crime and get caught, you deserve to stare at concrete walls all day.

However - I am curious to know how much cheaper the Prison option was compared to Sunnybank - although I doubt we would ever find out this information. I recall reading somewhere that prison workers get something like $1 a day when employed, which would make the labour ultra-inexpensive.

Just because its cheaper, doesn't mean its right.

 

[Mal]

However - I am curious to know how much cheaper the Prison option was compared to Sunnybank - although I doubt we would ever find out this information. I recall reading somewhere that prison workers get something like $1 a day when employed, which would make the labour ultra-inexpensive.

I believe it's $40-$60 / week in NSW

 

[aus_flyer]

Not at the expense of a community organisation that supports disability workers, sorry.

+1

I'm with haydensydney on this one.

Despite what many people/organisations think, sometimes the almighty dollar is not the sole driving force in decision making (and nor should it be). If it was, corporations would never donate a cent to charities.

The extra expense of engaging Sunnyfield should be considered in the same light.

I'm confident that if the two options were put to shareholders, they too would vote with a social conscience.

 

[joeymelb]

I am 100% certain that some of the prisoners can sing just as good. May be Qantas can ditch the little kiddies and contract the prisoners to sing "I still call Australia home" for their commercials.

Further, why don't they just contract the call centers to Corrective Services, surely it'd be cheaper than contracting out to India. That will at least keep jobs in Australia and give those prisoners a chance to fleece our credit card details.