Labor Action Could Go On Indefinitely

Given the economic woes facing most airlines worldwide, now isn't the best time for a labor strike to hinder operations even more... but that's the scenario facing Qantas.

Engineers at the Australian flag-carrier will reportedly begin striking next week, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. The engineers say that even considering rising fuel costs for the airline, Qantas can still afford to pay them more than current wages... which union reps say are below the level of inflation.

Hundreds of engineers plan to strike Monday and Tuesday, at Qantas bases in four cities. They'll do so in shifts, so airline operations aren't totally shut down... but those strikes could go on indefinitely.

Engineers represented by the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association are asking for a five percent pay raise. The request comes as Qantas announced last month a slew of route cancellations, and wage freezes for most employees.

Qantas has countered the union's request with a three-percent raise... but officials say that won't cut it.

"They've basically increased their fares but called it a fuel excise to cover the cost of rising fuel," Steve Purvinas, federal secretary for the ALAEA, said. "But it must be remembered, as well, that our aircraft engineers drive to work and pay for petrol as well so they're got rising fuel costs too.

"When you say that they can only have a three per cent wage rise, it's unacceptable."

FMI: www.qantas.com, www.alaea.asn.au/