Qantas faces the threat of strikes by maintenance engineers following an 80% vote for industrial action.
The Australian engineer’s union, the ALAEA, and Qantas have been in talks on a new workplace agreement for months. Strikes could be called at no more than three days notice and last up to 48 hours.
However, the union ruled out striking over Easter, with an official saying: “We don’t want to disrupt the travelling public. If action is to occur, then it will be after [Easter].” The union must call industrial action within 30 days.
The ALAEA accused Qantas of deliberately delaying negotiations. The official said: “We’ve had more than six months of negotiations. It’s a classic Qantas negotiating tactic.” Qantas said the union’s demands would be costly “at a time of near record jet fuel costs”.