ID :
211698
Fri, 10/07/2011 - 13:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/211698
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Qantas passengers face more disruptions
SYDNEY (AAP) - Oct 07 - Thousands of Qantas passengers are expected to face more disruptions on Monday, as engineers prepare to walk off the job for the longest time yet.
For the first time, Qantas line engineers will conduct four-hour work stoppages in Sydney from 3pm (AEDT), Melbourne from 5pm (AEDT) and Brisbane from 4pm (AEST).
The industrial action is part of an ongoing dispute with the airline over conditions, pay and job security.
A spokeswoman for the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) told AAP that the union had lengthened the strike action, from the usual one-hour stoppages, because negotiations with the airline were "still stalling".
"We have had heavy maintenance engineers stop work for a full day on September 30 and October 3, but this is the first time line maintenance engineers have done so," she said.
Line maintenance engineers conduct the day-to-day checks on aircraft on the tarmac.
Qantas said the stoppages would mean that 40 domestic flights would have to be cancelled and 27 delayed or brought forward.
Eleven international services will also be delayed.
"We will deploy larger aircraft and roster qualified management engineers to operational roles to minimise the impact, however there will still be significant impacts on our passengers," Qantas spokeswoman Olivia Wirth said in a statement on Friday.
The move is the latest in a series of industrial actions pursued by the ALAEA.
Members pushed ahead with plans for a one-hour work stoppage at Melbourne Airport on Friday afternoon as part of a series of hour-long stoppages the union has said it will carry out in different cities until mid-December.
If the ALAEA goes ahead with the stoppages on Monday, Qantas said it would bring the total number of passengers affected by union strike action to 46,500.
For the first time, Qantas line engineers will conduct four-hour work stoppages in Sydney from 3pm (AEDT), Melbourne from 5pm (AEDT) and Brisbane from 4pm (AEST).
The industrial action is part of an ongoing dispute with the airline over conditions, pay and job security.
A spokeswoman for the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) told AAP that the union had lengthened the strike action, from the usual one-hour stoppages, because negotiations with the airline were "still stalling".
"We have had heavy maintenance engineers stop work for a full day on September 30 and October 3, but this is the first time line maintenance engineers have done so," she said.
Line maintenance engineers conduct the day-to-day checks on aircraft on the tarmac.
Qantas said the stoppages would mean that 40 domestic flights would have to be cancelled and 27 delayed or brought forward.
Eleven international services will also be delayed.
"We will deploy larger aircraft and roster qualified management engineers to operational roles to minimise the impact, however there will still be significant impacts on our passengers," Qantas spokeswoman Olivia Wirth said in a statement on Friday.
The move is the latest in a series of industrial actions pursued by the ALAEA.
Members pushed ahead with plans for a one-hour work stoppage at Melbourne Airport on Friday afternoon as part of a series of hour-long stoppages the union has said it will carry out in different cities until mid-December.
If the ALAEA goes ahead with the stoppages on Monday, Qantas said it would bring the total number of passengers affected by union strike action to 46,500.
