More than 6,100 passengers will be hit by a strike at Qantas which will force the airline to cancel 28 flights and delay a further 27 by up to 35 minutes.
The Australian carrier said it had been able to “significantly reduce” the full impact of Transport Workers Union industrial dispute by using larger wide-body aircraft and deploying Qantas management to act in operational roles.
But the airline warned that there could be further delays over the next two days as a result of the knock-on effect from the strikes, due to begin on September 20.
Passengers are being requested to get up to date flight details by visiting qantas.com. Those on cancelled services or flights delayed by more than 15 minutes will be contacted, the airline said.
The union is demanding 5% annual pay increases and other benefits at a time when Qantas is restructuring its operations. Qantas Group executive Olivia Wirth said the airline was focussed first and foremost on getting passengers to the destinations as quickly as possible.
“We apologise to our passengers who will be caught up in this strike action from the Transport Workers Union. The TWU is intent on causing disruptions to Qantas passengers and we are doing everything we possibly can to reduce the delays and cancellations,” she said.
Wirth confirmed that the TWU was taking strike action as part of an ongoing pay dispute.
“The TWU are asking for 15% pay increase over the next three years which is just not sustainable in the current economic climate and when these employees are already the highest paid in the Australian aviation industry,” she said.
“The union is also trying to place restrictions on Qantas which would remove our flexibility to scale up or scale down our workforce in line with busy and quiet periods.
“The TWU is willing to allow its members to be paid 12% less at Virgin and to enable them to have a lower pay scale for new starters but they are demanding that Qantas does not have the same flexibility,” she said.
“We have been in negotiations with the TWU since May and are willing to offer reasonable pay increases. We encourage the TWU to remain at the negotiating table instead of going on strike.”
Wirth said Qantas was “very concerned” that three unions were working together to attack Qantas in a co-ordinated campaign.
“While Qantas is focused on building a better airline for our customers, employees and shareholders, three separate unions are taking coordinated industrial action and holding our passengers to ransom,” she said.
“Strike action by the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association in Sydney tomorrow will see more than 800 passengers affected by six flight delays. Since the engineers’ union started taking action in late August more than 10,000 passengers have been affected.”