Strike by Qantas engineers does not lead to disruptions in flights

Maintenance engineers in Brisbane broke tools at 1:30am.

Both groups, comprising about 300 engineers, are planning rallies outside the international terminals of Melbourne and Brisbane airports this morning.

The current agreement between the engineers expired at the end of June.

Last month, Qantas engineers went on a two-hour strike at major hubs including Brisbane Airport. (Darren England/AAP PHOTO)

The Qantas Engineers Alliance, made up of three unions, is demanding wage increases of five per cent a year, with a 15 per cent increase in the first year, to make up for three-and-a-half years of “pay freezes and industry traps”. prepayment”.

The alliance said Qantas management refused to return to the negotiating table and increase its previous offer.

“Union members are voting overwhelmingly to escalate our industrial activity,” Steve Murphy, national secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union, said in a statement.

“That’s because every time there’s a problem at Qantas, executives ignore it and just hope it goes away – well, we’re not going anywhere.”

Last month, more than 1,000 Qantas engineers went on strike for two hours at Australia’s major airports.

Qantas does not expect Wednesday’s strike in Melbourne or Brisbane to have any impact on customers.

“Engineers have been on strike since late September and so far we have been successful in ensuring that it has not resulted in any delays or cancellations,” a Qantas spokeswoman said.

The airline says the engineers’ demands are beyond their reach.

Qantas said it had met with unions and wanted to find a way forward but they had decided to take action.

“We would prefer to reach an agreement that includes wage increases and other benefits,” a Qantas spokeswoman said.

“This includes annual salary increases, apprentice pay increases, as well as new career opportunities and skills development.”