A lightning strike by Qantas engineers will cause chaos across Australia on Wednesday and Thursday.
Around 300 Qantas engineers across Australia will be off work for 24 hours from Wednesday morning.
This follows strikes at major airports last month after the airline refused to meet with workers to discuss the latest enterprise agreement.
Engine component maintenance engineers in Melbourne will go on a 24-hour strike from 9am on Wednesday, with a large demonstration expected at Tullamarine Airport from 10am
Brisbane heavy maintenance engineers have been on strike from 1.30am for 24 hours, with a large demonstration planned at Brisbane International Terminal from 9am
The Qantas Engineers Alliance, made up of AMWU, AWU and ETU, said action was necessary after Qantas management refused to return to the negotiating table and increase its previous offer.
“Union members are voting overwhelmingly in favor of intensifying our industrial activities,” said AMWU national secretary Steve Murphy.
A lightning strike by Qantas engineers will cause chaos across Australia on Wednesday and Thursday. Qantas plane pictured.
‘This is because every time there is a problem at Qantas, executives ignore it and just hope it goes away. Well, we’re not going anywhere.
“If Qantas wants to show the general public that things are going to change, then valuing workers who meet its safety record should be priority number one.”
AWU national secretary Paul Farrow said: ‘When times were tough, our members accepted years of pay freezes.
‘Now that profits are flowing, it’s time for Qantas to come to the table with a decent offer. No more delays, no more excuses.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Qantas, which has previously said the engineers’ demands are unsustainable, for comment.
More to come…