Professional engineers responsible for critical Qantas fleet operations have unanimously voted to seek a protected action ballot after more than a year of negotiations failed to deliver a reasonable pay offer.
Around 150 professional engineers, predominantly based at Mascot, are represented by Professionals Australia.
The work of these professional engineers is fundamental to the operation of the airline. They develop and maintain engineering systems across the Qantas fleet, undertake compliance work, support the introduction, modification and repair of aircraft and provide critical engineering authorisations and airworthiness sign-offs.
Professionals Australia NSW Director Justine McCarthy said the engineers had endured a pay freeze during COVID followed by below-inflation wage increases, leaving them significantly behind.
“These are highly skilled professional engineers undertaking critical work that keeps the Qantas fleet operating safely and efficiently.
“They have been negotiating with Qantas for more than a year, but the company has still failed to put forward a reasonable wage offer that recognises their skills, responsibilities and the value they provide to the business.
“Our members accepted a pay freeze during COVID and have received below-inflation increases ever since. They have gone backwards in real terms while their workloads, responsibilities and productivity have continued to grow.”
Qantas recently reported underlying profit before tax of $1.46 billion, up 5 per cent.
Ms McCarthy said Professionals Australia members had also provided Qantas with detailed evidence demonstrating increased productivity and the significant expansion of their responsibilities as the airline introduces and expands new aircraft fleets.
“Qantas is making enormous profits while the professional engineers who are fundamental to its operations are being asked to keep accepting wages that see them going backwards compared to the cost of living.
“Our members have unanimously endorsed taking the next step towards protected industrial action because they want Qantas to recognise their true value and deliver a restorative pay increase.”
Ms McCarthy said the proposed protected action ballot includes a range of potential industrial action, including stop-work action ranging from one hour to seven days, bans on work across specific projects and bans affecting critical engineering authorisations and sign-offs required for fleet operations.
“If industrial action becomes necessary, it has the potential to significantly disrupt normal Qantas operations and delay long term projects critical to the future success of the airline.
“Our members do not want it to come to that. Qantas can avoid disruption by coming back to the bargaining table with a fair and reasonable wage offer that properly recognises the contribution of these highly skilled professionals.”
The request for a protected action ballot was lodged on behalf of Qantas professionals engineers on 19 August for the Fair Work Commission’s consideration.
Contact details:
Darren Rodrigo 0414 783 405