A lightning strike by Qantas engineers is set to cause chaos across Australia on Wednesday and Thursday.
Around 300 Qantas engineers across Australia will walk off the job for 24 hours from Wednesday morning.
This follows industrial action taken across major airports in the past month, after the airline refused to meet with workers to discuss the latest enterprise agreement.
Engine components maintenance engineers in Melbourne will strike for 24 hours from 9am on Wednesday, with a large rally expected at Tullamarine Airport from 10am.
Brisbane heavy maintenance engineers have been on strike since 1.30am for 24 hours, with a large rally planned at the Brisbane International Terminal from 9am.
The Qantas Engineers’ Alliance, comprising the AMWU, AWU and ETU, said the action was necessary after Qantas management refused to return to the bargaining table and increase its previous offer.
‘Union members are voting overwhelmingly to escalate our industrial activities,’ AMWU national secretary Steve Murphy said.
‘This is because every time there is a problem at Qantas, the executives ignore it and just hope that it will go away. Well we’re not going anywhere.
A lightning strike by Qantas engineers is set to cause chaos across Australia on Wednesday and Thursday. Qantas plane pictured
Chaos is expected at many Australian airports on Wednesday and Thursday as Qantas engineers go on a 24-hour strike. Melbourne Airport is pictured
‘If Qantas wants to show the general public that things are going to change, then valuing the workers that deliver their safety record should be number one priority.’
The AWU’s national secretary Paul Farrow said ‘When times were tough, our members accepted years of wage freezes.
‘Now that the profits are flowing, it’s time for Qantas to come to the table with a decent offer. No more delays, no more excuses.’
ETU national secretary Michael Wright echoed those comments, saying ‘It’s disgraceful for Qantas to be making profits in the billions while these highly skilled workers are having to go without the pay increase they rightfully deserve.
‘These workers have suffered wage freezes through Covid, all while continuing to make Qantas one of the safest airlines around.
‘Qantas needs to stop stalling, start showing their respect to these workers and pay them what they’re worth.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Qantas, which has previously said the engineers’ demands are unsustainable, for comment.
More to come…
