3000 ANSETT STAFF RETURN TO WORK

Ansett Australia Administrator Mr Peter Hedge from PricewaterhouseCoopers confirmed last night close to 3000 Ansett staff will return to work from today, Monday 17 September, 2001.

Staff returning to work this morning are from areas including engineering, call centres, and travel agencies in the Ansett Australia group.

"After reviewing the financial position of Ansett over the weekend, we have identified certain operations that are viable going concerns, and we must also maintain our aircraft in a ready operational state," Peter Hedge said.

"This is the first step in ensuring the best possible solution for Ansett staff. While we can't guarantee that this is a permanent solution, it is a step in the right direction."

"We recognise that all staff would prefer to work, however the financial reality is that in the short term, we can only reinstate staff in essential and self-funding areas." Staff who have been stood down are asked to remain on standby and will be advised promptly if they are recalled to duty.

On Friday 14 September 2001, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission varied enterprise agreements covered varied Ansett enterprise agreements by inserting a stand down clause. The order meant 17,000 Ansett group staff were stood down without pay effective from midnight Friday 14 September 2001, unless otherwise advised.

Ansett Staff Hotline: 1800 151 604