Hundreds of Qantas engineers critical to aircraft maintenance are walking off the job this morning in a 24-hour strike that could spark flight delays or cancellations.
Engine components maintenance engineers at Melbourne‘s Tullamarine Airport will down their tools from 9am, while in Brisbane heavy maintenance engineers are striking from 1.30am AEST.
The snap strike comes after weeks of industrial action by the Qantas Engineers’ Alliance, – comprising the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the Electrical Trades Union and Australian Workers Union – over a pay dispute.
READ MORE: Qantas to face hefty bill after unlawful staff lay-offs
The Alliance is asking for a five per cent pay rise per year, starting with a 15 per cent pay rise this year to compensate to 3.5 years of wage freezes.
”When times were tough, our members accepted years of wage freezes,” AWU National Secretary Paul Farrow said.
“Now that the profits are flowing, it’s time for Qantas to come to the table with a decent offer.”
A large rally is planned at both Melbourne and Brisbane airports at 9 am.
More than 1000 engineers already walked off the job over the pay dispute on September 30 in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra after kicking off in Melbourne.
The pay negotiations began in April, and the engineers’ current enterprise agreement expired at the end of June.
“Every time there is a problem at Qantas, the executives ignore it and just hope that it will go away,” AMWU National Secretary Steve Murphy said.
“If Qantas wants to show the general public that things are going to change, then valuing the workers that deliver their safety record should be number one priority.”
9News.com.au has contacted Qantas for comment.
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