Qantas Engineers Plan 24-Hour Strike

Qantas engineers are set to strike for 24 hours starting 3:30 AM on Friday, December 13, amid an escalating wage dispute with the airline, affecting major airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. Nearly 500 line maintenance engineers, represented by the Qantas Engineers' Alliance, are protesting against Qantas's refusal to negotiate their wage demands, which include a 5% annual increase and a 15% increase in the first year due to prior wage freezes. The union claims that Qantas has not honored its commitments during negotiations, leading to the strike action just before the busy holiday travel period. Union leaders have stated that the airline's inability to engage meaningfully has forced workers to take this significant step, emphasizing that any travel disruptions during the holidays are the airline's responsibility. If negotiations remain unresolved, further strikes could occur in the following weeks, with another stoppage planned for December 20. Travelers are advised to monitor flight updates as disruptions are anticipated due to the strike.