Qantas engineers hold off strike
An AAP report says that a strike by more than 1,500 Qantas engineers will remain in the wings until the new year, with the airline today offering an olive branch to the technicians’ union.
More than 1,700 aircraft engineers will walk off the job on January 9 in protest against growing casualisation of the workforce and erosion of working conditions.
Almost 90 per cent of members from the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) voted for the action following the breakdown of enterprise negotiations with the airline.
It would represent the largest disruption to the nation’s air travel since the 1989 pilots’ strike, and threatens holidaying plans for thousands.
Tensions again mounted between the two sides today, with informal talk of bringing the action closer to Christmas – traditionally the busiest time for Australia’s airlines.
ALAEA Federal Secretary Steve Purvinas said the engineers were loath to disrupt Christmas and new year travel, but strike action could go ahead if Qantas took hostile action.
“ALAEA won’t be acting before January 9,” Mr Purvinas said.
“The only possibility (of that) would be if Qantas decides to start locking out employees.
“We don’t want to disrupt the holiday or Christmas and New Year and hopefully we can have meaningful discussions with the airline.”
A lock-out – where the airline sends employees home without pay until further notice, and replaces them with casual or other workers – was not in Qantas’s interests, Mr Purvinas said.
Qantas Executive General Manager Engineering David Cox dismissed the suggestion.
“We are not going to do that,” he said.
Executive General Manager people Kevin Brown said Qantas remained committed to finding a solution to the issue.
“There are no plans for a lock-out at this stage,” Mr Brown said.
“We will resume negotiations with the union on January 4.”
A Report by The Mole from AAP
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026