United Voice News
Qantas Dispute Update: Monday (31 October) Midday
United Voice members employed by Qantas and Q Catering are working normal rosters today, now that Fair Work Australia has removed their employer’s threat to lock out employees.
Qantas flights are expected to take to the air later today, according to Qantas management.
Acting on an application by the Federal Government, FWA early this morning ordered Qantas to end its industrial action – being the grounding of the international and domestic fleet, and the lock out due to start this evening. A Full Bench found that this action was threatening “to cause significant damage” to a significant part of the Australian economy.
A number of unions – including United Voice - have been trying to negotiate with Qantas for many months.
Qantas was pursing an aggressively hostile attitude to these negotiations in its attempt to shift many Australian jobs off-shore. The FWA’s orders, issued today, effectively directed Qantas, Q Catering, the Pilots Association, the Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association and the TWU to end protected industrial action. FWA will now allow either 21 or 42 days for conciliation, and if this fails, it has the power to arbitrate.
We are closely monitoring the progress of negotiations. We will advise United Voice members employed by the Qantas companies of any further developments that affect them. United Voice is currently bargaining for Q Catering members, and Qantas cleaners at the jet base in Sydney.
