In a showdown that’s been brewing for months, Qantas engineers are turning up the heat, as their demands for a pay increase continue to go unanswered. The Qantas Engineer’s Alliance (QEA), which includes three unions, claims management has gone radio silent after previous negotiations hit a wall. For their part, Qantas has brushed off the impact of these recent strikes, assuring passengers that flights are running smoothly thanks to some strategic behind-the-scenes maneuvering. But the standoff is far from over.
According to Qantas, they’ve been ready and willing to hash things out with the unions, but the engineers decided to walk out instead. “We’re all about finding a solution,” a spokesperson insists. However, the unions paint a very different picture, saying they’ve been left with no choice but to ramp up their industrial action. Steve Murphy, national secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union, fired a warning shot, promising more strikes are on the horizon, as engineers continue their fight for fair pay after enduring years of wage freezes.
The unions are asking for a 5% annual raise, with a hefty 15% jump in the first year as compensation for those frozen paychecks and to bring them in line with industry standards. It’s a bold ask, but one that the engineers believe is long overdue, especially given the critical role they play in keeping Qantas in the air. Michael Wright of the Electrical Trades Union argues it’s about respect, as these workers kept the airline flying through the pandemic, only to be left out in the cold when it came to pay increases.
Adding more fuel to the fire is Qantas’s recent legal trouble – a $170,000 fine for illegally sacking 1,700 ground workers. With potential compensation payouts looming, the airline is already under pressure. As the engineers gear up for further strikes, Qantas might soon find itself grappling with more than just a PR headache, as tensions soar higher than the planes they keep in the air.
(Source: AeroTime | Travel Weekly)
