Qantas Engineers Begin Nationwide Strike Over Wage Disputes

Qantas travelers have been alerted to potential flight disruptions as aircraft engineers embark on two weeks of industrial action starting today in Melbourne. The strike, organized by the Qantas Engineers’ Alliance, aims to demand a significant pay increase from the airline amidst ongoing wage disputes.

According to union representatives, the engineers, who make up approximately 45% of the airline’s maintenance workforce, are seeking a 15% pay rise for this year and an additional 5% per year thereafter. This move is intended to compensate for over three years of wage freezes affecting around 1,100 workers.

Paul Farrow, the national secretary of the Australian Workers' Union, criticized Qantas for not consenting to what the union considers a “fair deal.” He stated, “You can’t expect to announce billions in profits and executive bonuses and simultaneously tell the engineers who keep your planes safe to take less and less home to their families.”

Steve Murphy, national secretary for the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the engineers feel “undervalued and underappreciated.” “If you’ve had a bad Qantas experience, well that’s nothing compared to how Qantas makes their workers feel every day,” Murphy remarked.

Despite the strike’s initiation in Melbourne, the action is anticipated to expand nationwide, potentially impacting flights in all major Australian capitals, as the country prepares for significant events such as the AFL grand final in Melbourne and the NRL grand final in Sydney.

In response to the strike, Qantas has assured passengers that contingency plans are in place and that the airline does not currently expect the industrial action to affect customers. A spokesperson for Qantas stated, “We’re putting contingencies in place and don’t currently expect this industrial action to have an impact on customers.”

Qantas reported a profit of $1.25 billion in the 2023-24 financial year, a decrease of 28.3% from the previous year. The company’s Chief Executive, Vanessa Hudson, had noted the airline’s strategic decision to reduce margins on international travel in an attempt to balance the interests of shareholders, employees, and customers.

The strike involves participation from multiple unions including the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, the Australian Workers’ Union, and the Electrical Trades Union, all united in their call for fair wages for the engineers responsible for maintaining flight safety. Union leaders reiterated that the strike comes as a last resort due to Qantas management’s refusal to negotiate a satisfactory agreement.