Hundreds of Qantas engineers walked off the job on December 13th, 2024, in a strike over pay and conditions. The strike action has the potential to disrupt flights across Australia during the peak Christmas travel season.
More than 500 Qantas line maintenance personnel were involved in the walkout, which comes during on of the busiest days for Australian air travel.
Qantas Engineering Strike Action
The industrial action, which began at 3:30am on Friday morning, impacted major airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. The strike was called by the Qantas Engineers’ Alliance in response to ongoing disputes with the airline over pay and working conditions.
Workers are set to resume work at 7.30am local time on Saturday morning. There are only two major airports – Canberra and Darwin – which remain unaffected by the strike action.
The union has accused Qantas of engaging in deceptive tactics during wage negotiations. “Qantas has been lying to us,” said a spokesperson for the alliance. “They have been misleading us and trying to divide us. We will not stand for it.”
Qantas Response
Qantas has countered these claims, asserting that it has been negotiating in good faith and has offered a fair deal to its employees. The airline has also stated that it has implemented contingency plans to minimize disruptions to flight schedules.
“We understand the inconvenience this industrial action may cause to our customers, and we apologize for any disruption,” said a Qantas spokesperson. “We are working hard to minimize the impact of the strike and to get our customers on their way as soon as possible.”
However, travelers have expressed concerns about potential delays and cancellations, especially during the busy holiday period. Social media platforms have been flooded with posts from worried passengers seeking information about their flights.
A Qantas spokesperson said the airline had contingencies in place, which included backup aircraft and crews. The carrier remains confident that travellers will be unaffected by the disruption.
Further Action Possible
The strike highlights the ongoing tension between Qantas and its workforce. This comes in the wake of the airline’s controversial decision to outsource ground handling services to a third-party company. The move had led to job losses and increased workloads for remaining staff.
The union has warned that further industrial action may be taken if a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached with Qantas. This could include additional strikes or work slowdowns, which could have a significant impact on the airline’s operations.
As the strike unfolds, passengers are advised to check the status of their flights with Qantas or their travel agent. It is also recommended that travelers allow extra time for check-in and security screening, and to be prepared for potential delays or cancellations.
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