Chaos at Qantas as 1,000 engineers threaten to STRIKE as they demand a 12 per cent payrise and slam $2M-a-year CEO Alan Joyce as ‘overpaid’
- Airline workers are considering striking for 12 hours and overtime bans
- Workers are unhappy about negotiations surrounding a 12 per cent pay rise
- Qantas said proposed action is ‘unnecessary’ and 12 per cent pay rise unfeasible
More than 1,000 Qantas and Jetstar engineers have threatened to strike, demanding a massive 12 per cent pay rise.
The workers are considering 12-hour strikes – the length of a shift – and overtime bans as part of the industrial action which would likely cause havoc for travellers.
The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association federal secretary Steve Purvinas said some staff hadn’t had their pay increased in four years, while taking a swipe at Qantas CEO Alan Joyce who takes home about $2million a year.
‘The airline has not taken negotiations seriously,’ said Mr Purvinas.
More than 1,000 Qantas and Jetstar engineers have threatened to strike, demanding a massive 12 per cent pay rise
‘There have been years of meetings and no progress. The overpaid CEO (Alan Joyce) expects all workers to freeze their wages as the board tucks away bonus and share options for Qantas executives.’
The ALAEA has been granted permission by the Fair Work Commission to conduct a vote among members on whether industrial action needed to be taken.
It’s understood the strikes, which include members from Network Aviation, could be carried out as soon as mid-August.
Mr Purvinas said because some workers hadn’t been given a raise in four years, the 12 per cent demand would equate to a 3 per bent bump each year.
A Qantas spokesperson said: ‘We’re disappointed the ALAEA has taken this step given we’ve been negotiating in good faith on the agreements. This action from the union is completely unnecessary.
‘With the industry still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, the last thing it needs is the threat of industrial action.
‘Should the union proceed with industrial action, we have contingency plans to minimise any disruptions.
‘The latest claim by the ALAEA was for a one-year agreement with a 12 per cent pay rise for Qantas engineers. That’s something we simply can’t afford and is well above wage increases for other employees across the Group.
‘Negotiations for Jetstar and Network Aviation’s engineers agreements recommenced in May, so it is completely unreasonable to take this step given we’re still early in the process.’
More to come
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