HOLIDAYMAKERS are being warned of Qantas and Jetstar flight delays in January after engineers walked off the job today over a pay and conditions dispute.

More than 100 Qantas and Jetstar engineers went on strike.

The heavy-maintenance engineers from Avalon, and in Sydney and Brisbane, could strike for up to five business days, with more industrial action planned for December and into January.

The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia’s Alison Rose says the strike action has been carefully planned not to impact Christmas flights – but the same assurance cannot be given for January.

“We have called on Qantas to come back and talk to us to resolve our key issues of fatigue and professional recognition and development,” Ms Rose said.
“Qantas hasn’t done that so the industrial action has commenced this morning.

“If Qantas doesn’t come back to talk to us and obviously it’s in their hands we would anticipate that there would be impact of these work stoppages felt in January.”

Qantas group executive of government and corporate affairs, David Epstein, said the industrial action wouldn’t impact flights.

“The announcement by union officials refers to sporadic action that has been going on for some time but has not disrupted Qantas operations and will not do so in the future,” he said.

“We would encourage customers to disregard this attempt at scaremongering.

“We have continued to negotiate in good faith and remain absolutely committed to finding common ground.”

Mr Epstein said Qantas had contingency plans in place to ensure planes would not be delayed or grounded.

He said APESMA was seeking a pay rise of 26 per cent over three years, which was unreasonable.

Ms Rose said APESMA’s members were seeking a pay rise in the vicinity of between 4.5 to 5 per cent a year over the life of the agreement.

She said the main issue driving the strike action was fatigue.

“They provide 24-hour, seven-day-a-week support to Qantas and part of the Jetstar fleet. In doing so they would work a normal day … and then be on-call over night,” Ms Rose said.

“It is not uncommon for them to have less than four hours’ sleep between work periods.

“We just need to work out how we can actually put proper rest breaks into this work pattern.”
Source: heraldsun