[231011.EN.AIR] Qantas Offer Rebuffed, One-hour Ground Strikes Resume On Wednesday

AUSTRALIA's flag carrier, Qantas Airways, experienced a rebuff from the Transport Workers' Union (TWU) which rejected the company's offer and demanded higher wages and better working conditions.

Said Qantas operations chief Lyell Strambi said: "This was a good deal for our employees and it's disappointing that the union has rejected the offer and indicated it will continue industrial action which will cause further disruption to passengers."

The carrier said TWU employees have the highest paid in the industry and this agreement would further increase their wages and benefits.

The TWU told Qantas one-hour strikes would resume 7am Tuesday October 25 in Brisbane and at 8am in Melbourne.

Said union spokesman Scott Connoll: "Qantas is happy to run a A$530 million [US$546 million] pre-tax profit and move heaven and earth to ensure [company CEO] Alan Joyce gets his 71 per cent pay increase at next week's Qantas AGM, but retaining well-trained, quality staff is beyond them."

The union also said on its website that there is "no limit on the number of jobs to be outsourced - 1,000 jobs to be outsourced overseas."

Qantas reached an agreement in-principle on a three per cent pay increase per annum for three years with the union representing short-haul cabin crew earlier this month, as well as a similar agreement with the National Union of Workers which represents 360 shop assistants, said the company statement.

Qantas has been hit by a series of strikes since September and faces continuing disputes with ground staff, engineers and pilots after it released plans to layoff workers and outsource work.

Source : HKSG.