Unionized engineers at Qantas Airways launch 24-hour strike  

Unionized engineers at Qantas Airways in Australia are to embark on a 24-hour strike after the airline would not agree to meet with them to discuss the latest enterprise agreement that includes an increase in wages. 

In a press release published on October 23, 2024, Qantas Engineers’ Alliance, which represents the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) and Electrical Trades Union (ETU), announced that around 300 Qantas engineers working at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport (MEL) and Brisbane International Airport (BNE) will walk off their jobs from October 23, 2024. 

In Melbourne, engine maintenance engineers will start their strike at 09:00 local time. Meanwhile, Heavy Maintenance Engineers in Brisbane will strike from 01:30 local time. 

Both cities are also set to stage rallies during the strike. In Melbourne, a large rally is planned at the International Terminal of MEL Airport starting at 10:00 local time. In Brisbane, another large rally is scheduled at the Domestic Terminal of BNE Airport from 09:00 local time. 

Steve Murphy, AMWU National Secretary, said: “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.” 

Qantas Engineers’ Alliance stated that the strike comes after “repeated industrial actions by workers across major airports this past month”. The Alliance explained that this step was necessary because “Qantas management refused to return to the bargaining table and increase its previous offer”.  

The most recent enterprise agreement expired in June 2024. Since April 2024, the Alliance has been in talks with Qantas management to secure a better contract. They are pressing for a 5% pay increase each year, along with a 15% raise in the first year to make up for 3.5 years of wage freezes and act as an industry catch-up payment. 

“When times were tough, our members accepted years of wage freezes,” said Paul Farrow, AWU National Secretary. “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, asserted that “it’s disgraceful for Qantas to be making profits in the billions” while their workers “are having to go without the pay increase they rightfully deserve”. 

A Qantas representative has informed SkyNews that the strike is not likely to affect travelers. They also claimed that the airline had held several meetings with the Alliance before the strike was called. 

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