Arabic version: كانتاس تسعى لوقف إضراب إقليمي خلال عطلة المدارس

According to ABC News, Qantas is before the Fair Work Commission seeking to prevent the Transport Workers Union from proceeding with planned industrial action next week. The proposed 24-hour strike is scheduled for Thursday and concerns QantasLink flights departing Sydney and freight services.

The action could affect travellers heading to selected regional areas as school holidays begin in Queensland, Victoria and the Northern Territory. About 650 employees are involved, most of whom work on Qantas Freight, while a smaller group services QantasLink flights at Sydney Airport.

The workers do not service Qantas mainline or international operations, nor QantasLink services at other airports. Qantas said it had prepared contingency plans to minimise potential effects on QantasLink customers and operations if the action proceeds. The airline said talks through the commission had been constructive and that negotiations were continuing, with a focus on pay and more full-time opportunities.

TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said workers were not taking the action lightly. He said any disruption to freight, including Australia Post shipments, was the responsibility of Qantas management. Kaine also linked casualisation and insecure work among ground crews to safety concerns and referred to the death of a Qantas Freight worker on Father’s Day more than a year earlier.

Qantas disputes union claims that safety incidents have increased since ground handling moved to Swissport more than five years ago. The company said it remained committed to reaching an agreement with Qantas Ground Services employees that includes annual pay rises.