Qantas passengers are facing the possibility of flight delays as engineers, represented by unions, have launched a rolling strike. The industrial action, which began in Melbourne on Thursday morning, is expected to spread across the country in the coming days. This comes at a critical time, just ahead of the AFL and NRL grand finals, when thousands of interstate visitors are expected to arrive in Melbourne.
The engineers are demanding a 15% pay increase this year, followed by 5% annual raises. They argue that this increase is necessary to compensate for over three years of wage freezes and to reflect the airline’s strong financial performance, which saw a profit of $1.25 billion in the 2023-24 financial year. Approximately 1,100 aircraft maintenance workers, representing about 45% of Qantas’ engineers, are covered by the agreement currently under negotiation.
Union representatives have criticized Qantas for offering executive bonuses while refusing to provide a “fair deal” for engineers. “You can’t expect to announce billions in profits and executive bonuses and then tell the engineers who keep your planes safe to take less home to their families,” said Paul Farrow, national secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union. Steve Murphy, national secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that Qantas workers feel undervalued despite the vital role they play in maintaining safety in the air.
Qantas has already alerted some passengers about potential disruptions and offered the option to rebook flights at no extra charge. Despite this, a Qantas spokesperson reassured the public that the airline has implemented contingency plans and does not anticipate significant disruptions. “We’ve held several meetings with the unions and made progress on several items. We aim to reach an agreement that includes pay raises and lifestyle benefits for our employees,” the spokesperson stated. However, the extent of the disruption remains uncertain, and passengers are advised to check flight status updates regularly.
