Unionised workers at Qantas Ground Services (QGS) postponed a day-long strike in Victoria on 23 September, but will move forward with planned strikes in other states on 24 September, according to the Transport Workers Union (TWU).
“[Workers are] standing up for what Australian aviation should be: an industry that puts workers, safety and passengers first,” the TWU said on 23 September. The union has not explained its Victorian strike decision.
TWU workers support Qantas’ air freight services and Sydney-based QantasLink services, Lithos understands.
Australia Post – a Qantas air freight customer – has detailed contingency plans in place and is working closely with … partners to minimise [customer and delivery service impacts] during [TWU’s strike],” a company spokesperson told Lithos on 23 September.
TWU workers can launch an unlimited number of day-long work stoppages, indefinite overtime bans, indefinite freight sorting bans, and indefinite training bans under a 27 August strike authorisation.
Qantas and TWU have been locked in Fair Work Commission-facilitated (FWC) negotiations for months, but disagree over a range of wage and employment condition proposals. “Discussions through the [FWC] have been constructive, and negotiations are continuing,” a Qantas spokesperson told Lithos on 18 September.
“Our focus is on an agreement that addresses what employees have told us matters most, including pay and more full-time opportunities,” the spokesperson said.
“QGS workers are calling for job security, a fair pay rise after years of wage freezes … and for … scattered work groups to be brought back together under a single Qantas banner,” the union said on 1 September.
By Avinash Govind