The Qantas Group will issue a digital health pass (more commonly called a vaccine passport) when regular Qantas and Jetstar international flights resume – and the airline may eventually follow the lead of big US companies like Google, Facebook, Netflix, Twitter, Washington Post, Morgan Stanley and Saks Fifth Avenue and require all employees to be vaccinated.
Qantas is bringing itself into line with growing international practice, confirming it will work with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on rolling out a digital health pass. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce says Qantas feels that vaccination should be a requirement for all aviation workers. It wants the government to make this mandatory.
At the same time, a major union has said that Qantas, “rather than pushing for mandatory vaccination, should ensure that all workers in their supply chain are able to get vaccinated without losing any pay”.
Disturbingly, a recent survey a showed only one third of aviation workers had been fully vaccinated.
So far, Qantas has refrained from issuing a “no jab, no job” ultimatum (which would have to involve the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and the government), though the airline has made clear that international crew and passengers must be vaccinated when long-haul international flights resume.
Qantas said yesterday the IATA Travel Pass offered “a convenient and secure method for customers to verify Covid test results and vaccination information with border or health officials and airline staff.
“The app connects customers to certified testing labs so that results can be uploaded to the platform and customers can show they have a vaccine certificate and/or proof of a negative Covid test result before their flight.
“Importantly, the IATA Travel Pass matches a customer’s health information against a specific flight, checks the entry requirements for the country they are travelling to and provides clearance to travel on that flight, to both the customer and airline.”
The Qantas announcement follows the Federal Government’s release earlier this month of its four-phase national Covid-19 response plan, which includes validating the vaccination status of Australians returning from overseas.
Many countries to which Qantas and Jetstar fly, including Britain, Canada and the US, demand either a proof of vaccination or negative Covid test result to enter without quarantine.
“We want to get our international flights back in the air and our people back to work and a digital health pass will be a key part of that,” Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer, Stephanie Tully, said yesterday.
“Many Governments are already requiring proof of vaccine or a negative Covid test result for international travel. Even if it wasn’t a government requirement, Qantas has always been a leader in safety and we have a responsibility to our customers and crew.
“A digital health pass will connect customers with Covid testing facilities, health authorities and airlines, and ultimately enable the opening of more travel bubbles and borders.
The way things were. Qantas A380 flies over Sydney. Source: Qantas
“The IATA Travel Pass will allow travellers to have their Covid test results and vaccine information verified securely, which will be their green light to fly internationally with us.
“We’re working closely with IATA to develop their Travel Pass to make the process as seamless as possible for Qantas and Jetstar customers as international borders start to re-open.”
IATA Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security, Nick Careen, said the IATA Travel Pass let travellers create a digital ID derived from a government-issued document such as a passport.
“This means that airlines and governments can have full confidence in the test/vaccine results both from a content and identity perspective. Being able to validate the vaccination status of Australians returning from overseas is critical to enable Australia’s four-phase national Covid response plan announced earlier this month.”
THE TRANSPORT WORKERS’ UNION, meanwhile, released the results of a recent survey of 800 aviation workers, which is said showed only one third of aviation workers had been fully vaccinated.
Many workers said they were having difficulty getting access to the vaccine and in organising vaccination ahead of roster changes, with the potential of losing work.
Most of those vaccinated organised the jab themselves (70%), with just 30% assisted by their employer.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said Qantas should guarantee pay when workers get vaccinated and ensure rapid testing for crew and passengers rather than blaming workers.
“The problem is not that workers aren’t getting vaccinated. The problem is that many workers either can’t get access to the vaccine or are finding that when booking vaccine appointments in advance they risk losing work ahead of rosters getting published. Yet again Qantas is behaving like a dictator trying to blame workers for a problem which should be borne by the Federal Government for the failed rollout and by Qantas which is failing to guarantee that workers won’t lose a cent in pay if they get the jab,” he said.
“Alan Joyce, who earned $11 million last year, is ignoring the grim reality for his workers that after a year of stand down on meagre income they are struggling. Every extra shift, every hour’s penalty rate is vital to these workers. Many have told us they have missed out on pay to get vaccinated but not everyone can do that. Qantas management needs to drop the tone with its workers and start recognising what the real problem is,” Kaine added.
Cabin crew and pilots at 78% overwhelmingly support rapid pre-flight tests of crew and passengers to help reduce risks.
“Workers are telling us they want rapid testing to keep themselves and their families safe. We call on Qantas to work to get this in place, rather than shifting the burden for protection entirely onto workers,” Kaine added.
The TWU says Scott Morrison has not responded to two written requests from the union, requesting that aviation workers be added to vaccine priority lists and for rapid pre-flight testing to be introduced at airports.
Survey respondents said their jobs made it difficult to access vaccines.
One cabin crew respondent said: “I travelled 2 hours each way to get my shots – total four hours additional driving on top of a 10-hour work day and waking up that morning at 2.30am. After getting the vaccine I got home at 11pm that day. Unbelievably exhausting.”
A cabin crew worker echoed this problem: “Most cabin crew I have spoken to who weren’t vaccinated is because it was too far from home to travel. Also I had to try and time my shots and bid for days off which was very stressful and annoying that I had to use my bids to get the day off and not guaranteed. The company should assist cabin crew with organised time off to get the shot.”
“The government should be facilitating employers of front-line workers, provision and access for staff vaccinations,” said a cabin crew worker.
Another called for “vaccine clinics at airports for border and transport workers. Rostering protocols amended to allow one to book in for a vaccine and not have to cancel the appointment due to a duty change.”
A pilot called for “time off for vaccine appointment that is booked blindly without a roster…. frontline crew would have to cancel from a rostered trip to attend a vaccination appointment made weeks ago.”
A ground crew worker said: “I’m a casual and only get a roster a few days in advance. It’s impossible to book a time to be vaccinated without risking losing a day’s pay.”
Written by Peter Needham
