Travelling footy fans are on edge after Qantas engineers said they would begin industrial action in Melbourne, just days before the city hosts the AFL grand final.
The Qantas Engineers’ Alliance claims “hundreds” of engineers disgruntled over ongoing wage negotiations will strike at all major Australian airports in the next two weeks.
It will start in Melbourne on Thursday and the alliance — which includes the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the Australian Workers Union (AWU) and Electrical Trades Union — claims “it is highly likely” to affect flights.
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Qantas has downplayed fears for travellers, including those flying into Melbourne for the grand final between Sydney and Brisbane on Saturday.
“We’re putting contingencies in place and don’t currently expect this industrial action to have an impact on customers,” the airline told 7NEWS.com.au.
“We’ve held a series of meetings with the unions and made progress on a number of items. We want to reach an agreement that includes pay rises and lifestyle benefits for our people.”
Alliance engineers want a 5 per cent per year pay bump, plus a 15 per cent first year payment “to make up for 3.5 years of wage freezes”.
The alliance claims the Australian carrier’s management had so far refused to negotiate a fair deal with workers who feel “devalued”.
“Qantas engineers are dedicated to getting passengers where they need to go safely and on time,” AWU national secretary Paul Farrow said.
“As a former aircraft engineer, I know they never take industrial action lightly. On this occasion their hand has been forced because Qantas management is refusing to countenance a fair deal.
“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. At some point people are going to say enough.”