Qantas long-haul pilots have voted to take protected industrial action against the airline (for industrial action to be lawful it must be "protected"). This is the first time in 45 years such an initiative has been taken.
According to the Australian and International Pilot Association (AIPA) 94 percent of the 1,429 pilots who voted were in favour. Various protest options, such as five minute stoppages or two-day strikes, were also voted on although no final decision has been reached.
Exact details of the mass protest are expected to be determined within the coming week, said AIPA.
AIPA president, airline captain Barry Jackson told the media: “The aim of the action was to get a clause in an enterprise agreement guaranteeing Qantas pilots would operate Qantas long-haul flights.”
Jackson went on to say that Qantas’ current management team were in favour of outsourcing certain operations and jobs to Asia, which he believes will damage the brand as well threaten jobs for Australian based pilots.
Also voting to take industrial action are the airline’s engineers, who are also concerned about job security.
Business travellers using Qantas do not need to panic just yet as the time between this decision and any response could take up to four weeks, said AIPA.
Vicki Williams
