Qantas strikes labour deal, but strikes continue
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Qantas has finalised another new agreement with one of its labour unions, the National Union of Workers (NUW). The latest agreement covers 360 workers employed in engineering, catering and freight facilities across Australia, and includes 3% pay increases over three years. The latest bargaining effort follows a deal struck with the airline’s cabin crew union last week, but the despite this, Qantas continues to face industrial action from other dissatisfied workers.
The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) and Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) will take further strike action in the coming days. The TWU will stage industrial action tomorrow (Thursday 13 October 2011), with two, two hour blockages at morning and afternoon peak times at airports across Australia. The first strike starts at 5am and the last strike concludes at 8pm.
This latest work stoppage will cause the cancellation of 14 flights on Thursday, and delay a further 38. Once again, Qantas will be forced to assign management to undertake operational roles, as well as deploying larger aircraft on some routes.
Following this on Friday, ALAEA members will down tools in Sydney from 4-8pm. Qantas said it is still assessing what impact this will have on services.
“Tomorrow’s strikes by the TWU and Friday’s strike by the licensed engineers’ union are a clear sign that the unions are stepping up their coordinated attacks on Qantas and our passengers,” said Qantas Group Executive for Government & Corporate Affairs, Olivia Wirth. “We call on the union leaders to drop their unrealistic demands and ask them to come back to the negotiating table,” she added.