Qantas Engineers’ Alliance set to strike at Melbourne Airport on Thursday
A massive union strike will hit Qantas today, with workers saying it is “highly likely” flights will be disrupted.   


News.com.au
September 26, 2024

Qantas union workers will walk off the job at Melbourne Airport on Thursday, the first step in a larger nationwide strike against the airline giant.

The Qantas Engineers’ Alliance, a union made up of the Australian Workers Union, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and Electrical Trades Union, said the industrial action would begin in Melbourne and then spread to all major airports across the country over the next two weeks.

“It is highly likely to affect Qantas flights in all major capitals,” the union said on Wednesday evening.

AMWU national secretary Steve Murphy said the airline’s engineers were “undervalued, underpaid and underappreciated”.

Qantas engineers will go on strike at Melbourne Airport before launching industrial action at other major airports in the next few days.
“If you’ve had a bad Qantas experience, well that’s nothing compared to how Qantas makes their workers feel every day,” he said,

“Our highly skilled members deserve fair wages for the incredible work they do to keep us all safe in the air.”

The employees taking part in the industrial action are from Qantas’ Aircraft Maintenance Engineers teams.

The enterprise agreements for the 1100 employees who make up the teams expired in June 2024 and the union is pushing for a 5 per cent pay bump per year plus a 15 per cent first year payment.



The workers will pursue a range of work stoppages at airports around Australia on Thursday and then next Monday, Wednesday and Friday.


While the union warned of flight disruptions, a Qantas spokesman said the company was prepared.

“We’re putting contingencies in place and don’t currently expect this industrial action to have an impact on customers,” the spokesman said.

“We’ve held a series of meetings with the unions and made progress on a number of items.

“We want to reach an agreement that includes pay rises and lifestyle benefits for our people.”

Qantas engineers warn strikes will continue if airline doesn't make higher pay offer


Mon 30 Sep 2024
ABC News

In short:
Qantas engineers at capital city airports held two-hour strikes this morning as part of a protracted pay dispute with the airline.

They want a 15 per cent pay rise with further rises in subsequent years.

What's next?
The unions representing the engineers warn they'll continue to hold strikes if Qantas doesn't make a better offer.


Qantas engineers are warning they'll hold further strikes if the airline does not make a substantial increase in its pay offer, as a protracted enterprise bargaining dispute continues.

Engineers at Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth airports walked off the job for two hours on Monday morning as part of a push for a major pay increase.

The Qantas Engineers' Alliance, which consists of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), Australian Workers Union (AWU) and Electrical Trades Union (ETU) wants a 15 per cent up-front pay rise with another 5 per cent increase over the next three years.

The engineers in charge of marshalling aircraft and checking planes in between flights downed tools during rolling stoppages across the country.

A group of workers in high vis yellow and orange vests stand behind red and white striped tape holding union flags.
Striking engineers attended a rally at Qantas headquarters in Sydney.

"It's about time that Qantas showed these workers that they are valued, they are respected," AMWU national secretary Steve Murphy said during a rally outside Qantas headquarters in Sydney.

"Pay the workers back for their goodwill and their good faith during COVID when we were looking after the general public's safety and making sure that the planes were always ready to go."

AWU national secretary Paul Farrow said the engineers played an integral role in maintaining Qantas's reliable safety record.


AMWU national secretary Steve Murphy addresses the rally of striking engineers in Sydney.

He called on Qantas to bring a good offer to the negotiating table or face further strike action.

"I think it's been nearly 20 years since our members have engaged in this type of action and what have they got for it?" Mr Farrow asked.

"One-point-two per cent per annum for the last 10 years while cost of living has gone up by 23 per cent.

"What Qantas has taught (the engineers) is 'if you stay quiet, if you work with us, what you'll get in return is absolutely nothing'."

ETU national secretary Michael Wright said the engineers did not deliberately target the AFL and NFL grand final weekends to take strike action.

"It's an unfortunate consequence and we're doing everything we can to limit the impact on people's holidays," he said.

"But it remains the case that after 10 years of real wage cuts, the ball is in Qantas's court for how it is they're going to come forward and make good after the hard work that has kept the company aloft after all these years"

Workers wearing orange and yellow high vis are holding union flags and chanting.
The engineers say strike action will continue if Qantas does not increase their pay offer.

Engineers in Melbourne held a strike on Thursday which did not result in any serious delays.

Qantas said it had contingencies in place to minimise any delays for travellers.

"Over the past four days, we have seen no disruptions to our network as a result of the industrial action from some of our engineering work groups," a spokesperson said.

"Our teams have done a great job helping customers safely get to their destination over the busy weekend with school holidays and the footy finals."

"We have contingencies in place and don't expect Monday's planned strike action to have an impact on customers, or their travel plans."