***MEDIA ALERT***
Around 300 Qantas engineers across Australia will walk off the job for 24 hours from Wednesday morning, following repeated industrial actions by workers across major airports this past month, after the airline refused to meet with workers to discuss the latest enterprise agreement.
Melbourne: from 10AM AEDT — Melbourne Tullamarine Airport’s International Terminal
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10:30AM (1st Floor Qantas Help Desk) AWU National Secretary Paul Farrow
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11:00AM (Outside International Terminal Qantas Departures) AMWU Victorian State Secretary Tony Mavromatis + ETU Victorian Organiser Shannon Crundwell
Brisbane: from 9AM AEST – Brisbane Domestic Terminal
Speeches will begin at 9:45 outside the Domestic Terminal until approximately 10:00AM
Speakers:
AMWU Lead Organiser Gary Strauss
AWU National President Marina Chambers
ETU Qld Organiser Scott Reichman
Media contact:
AMWU Sonia Feng, 0478 599 580, Sonia.Feng@amwu.org.au,
AWU Alana Drayton, 0436 654 478, alana.drayton@nat.awu.net.au,
ETU Jo Sutton 0410 101 902, Jo.sutton@etuaustralia.org.au
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Around 300 Qantas engineers across Australia will walk off the job for 24 hours from Wednesday morning, following repeated industrial actions by workers across major airports this past month, after the airline refused to meet with workers to discuss the latest enterprise agreement.
Engine components maintenance engineers in Melbourne will strike for 24 hours from 9 AM AEDT on Wednesday the 23rd of October with a large rally expected at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport’s International Terminal from 10 AM AEDT.
Brisbane Heavy Maintenance Engineers will also strike from 1:30 AM AEST for 24 hours, with a large rally planned at the Brisbane International Terminal from 9 AM AEST.
The Qantas Engineers’ Alliance — a union alliance comprising the AMWU, the AWU, and the ETU — said further action was necessary after Qantas management refused to return to the bargaining table and increase its previous offer.
The current enterprise agreement expired at the end of June, and the Alliance has put forward a wage claim of 5 per cent per year, with a 15 per cent first-year increase to compensate for 3.5 years of wage freezes and as an industry catch-up payment.
Steve Murphy, AMWU National Secretary:
“Union members are voting overwhelmingly to escalate our industrial activities. This is because every time there is a problem at Qantas, the executives ignore it and just hope that it will go away. Well we’re not going anywhere.”
“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.”
Paul Farrow, AWU National Secretary:
“When times were tough, our members accepted years of wage freezes. Now that the profits are flowing, it’s time for Qantas to come to the table with a decent offer. No more delays, no more excuses.”
“Qantas wouldn’t have the safety record it does without the work our members do every day to keep these planes in the air.”
Michael Wright, ETU National Secretary:
“It’s disgraceful for Qantas to be making profits in the billions while these highly skilled workers are having to go without the pay increase they rightfully deserve.”
“These workers have suffered wage freezes through COVID, all while continuing to make Qantas one of the safest airlines around. Qantas needs to stop stalling, start showing their respect to these workers and pay them what they’re worth.”
Union media contacts:
AMWU: Sonia Feng 0478 599 580
AWU: Tim Brunero 0405 285 547
ETU: Joanne Sutton 0410 101 902