Jetstar strikes and cancelled flights: What you need to know
Jetstar has stared down the Trade Workers Union, saying their ongoing threat of strike action causes more “uncertainty” for travellers during the Christmas and New Year period after today’s rallies forced the airline to cancel flights. SEE THE LIST
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Jetstar has accused the Trade Workers Union of causing more “uncertainty” for travellers during the Christmas and New Year period with ongoing threats of strike action.
While the union has agreed to call off Christmas strike action between December 20 and January 3, the budget airline has said it is willing to negotiate a deal that fits within the three per cent wages approach.
“The holiday period extends well beyond the Christmas/New Year period and their continued threat of action provides ongoing uncertainty for our customers.,” a Jetstar spokeswoman said.
“As we have repeatedly said to the TWU, we are willing to meet if the union provides clear evidence they are prepared to discuss a deal that fits within the three per cent wages approach across the Group.”
The TWU has said baggage handlers and ramp workers have decided not to strike over the Christmas period, following today’s work stoppages at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Cairns and Avalon.
The TWU called off strikes to allow people to travel home for Christmas and to appeal to Jetstar to meet modest worker demands on pay and safety.
“Workers today have decided to call off strikes over poverty wages to allow people to travel home for Christmas and be with their families. We appeal to Jetstar to offer some similar goodwill to its workforce and to meet their modest wage and safety claims. We can resolve this dispute if Jetstar comes to the table and shows us they are willing to address serious worker concerns,” TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said.
It comes after Qantas workers were warned they will lose part of their pay if they joined Jetstar baggage and ramp workers who walked off the job today, striking to increase wages and guarantee working hours.
In a statement posted to Qantas staff, and posted on social media by the Trade Workers Union, the statement says “any employees who are rostered on duty are not authorised to attend the rally”.
Here is @Qantas message to any uppity employee thinking of supporting striking @JetstarAirways workers today pic.twitter.com/PSIQJe5d8F
— TWU Australia (@TWUAus) December 18, 2019
“This is the case regardless of whether you have a specific task allocated to you at the relevant time,” it read.
“Any employee who does attend the rally whilst rostered on duty will be engaging in unprotected industrial action for the purposes of the Fair Work Act; and as a result Qantas will be required to deduct four hours of pay from those employees.”
Anyone who works for Qantas who was not on shift could join the strike action as a private citizen.
The strikes occurred in Sydney from 10am until midday, in Melbourne from 9.30am to 11.30am, Brisbane from 6am until 8am, Cairns from 5.20am until 7.30am, Adelaide from 6am until 8am and Avalon from 8am until 10am.
It has led the airline to cancel a string of flights, with Jetstar issuing a statement on its website saying it had “proactively cancelled” the services and was “re-accommodating passengers on alternate services”.
These included nearly 30 flights departing from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
#JetstarSolidarity second strike action at Brisbane airport starting now!
— TWU Queensland (@TWUQueensland) December 18, 2019
It’s time for management to meet with workers to discuss the pay catch up and safety improvements at our airports! @TWUAus @TheQCU pic.twitter.com/zhEGHdof89
“We contacted affected customers yesterday to offer them alternative flights, a refund or a no-cost change to their travel date and thank them for their flexibility,” a Jetstar spokesperson said.
“No international flights are impacted by our proactive contingency changes on Thursday.
“The majority of customers are being offered alternative flights within 3-4 hours of their original departure time.”
Jetstar issued a statement today saying they won’t be swayed by TWU’s “stand-over tactics” and have strong contingencies in place to protect customers’ travel.
“As we have repeatedly said to the TWU, including today, we are willing to meet if the union provides clear evidence they are prepared to discuss a deal that fits within our wages policy,” a spokeman stated.
“Until then, we are focused on minimising disruption caused by the union’s actions.
“The reality is, the TWU’s claims equate to a 12 per cent increase in costs, including six per cent increase in salary and super, despite the same union agreeing to a three per cent wages deal in other parts of the Qantas Group.”
Workers are standing to include more rest breaks, a guaranteed 12 hour break between shifts, commitment to engaging Jetstar employees rather than untrained casual staff and guarantee 30 hours a week per employee.
Workers also want wage increases of four per cent, recognition of having to take on more responsibilities and better consultation with workers.
The budget airline claims it will have lost $25 million if pay fights with two unions drags into January, with the budget airline planning to cut more flights.
Ground crew represented by the Transport Workers Union and the Australian Federation of Air Pilots started industrial action on Friday and continued over the weekend.
FLIGHTS GROUNDED
Jetstar has confirmed the following flights will not run today.
JQ759 Brisbane to Hobart
JQ507 Sydney to Melbourne
JQ812 Sydney to Brisbane
JQ509 Sydney to Melbourne
JQ816 Sydney to Brisbane
JQ954 Sydney to Cairns
JQ810 Sydney to Brisbane
JQ416 Sydney to Gold Coast
JQ820 Sydney to Brisbane
JQ506 Melbourne to Sydney
JQ508 Melbourne to Sydney
JQ572 Melbourne to Brisbane
JQ442 Melbourne to Gold Coast
JQ561 Brisbane to Melbourne
JQ758 Hobart to Brisbane
JQ500 Melbourne to Sydney
JQ811 Brisbane to Sydney
JQ512 Melbourne to Sydney
JQ825 Brisbane to Sydney
JQ953 Cairns to Sydney
JQ813 Brisbane to Sydney
JQ415 Gold Coast to Sydney
JQ823 Brisbane to Sydney
JQ503 Sydney to Melbourne
JQ511 Sydney to Melbourne
JQ565 Brisbane to Melbourne
JQ441 Gold Coast to Melbourne
JQ564 Melbourne to Brisbane
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HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW AND HOW IT AFFECTS PASSENGERS
WHAT IS THE INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE ABOUT?
The industrial action comes after the budget airline rejected workers’ demands for pay increases, minimum hours on the job and safety improvements.
Members of the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) – which includes 80 per cent of Jetstar’s 830 pilots — and ground staff are being represented by the Transport Workers Union which has asked for annual wage increase of four per cent, more rest breaks, a guaranteed 12-hour break between shifts and minimum 30 hour working weeks.
TWU officials have claimed ground crew workers, who earn an average of $70,000 a year, are struggling to cover living costs because they aren’t guaranteed a set amount of hours each week.
Both unions started negotiating new employment agreements with Jetstar about six months ago, but talks have broken down.
Jetstar has refused to agree to their demands saying they are “unsustainable”.
WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW?
Jetstar has announced it will cut 10 per cent of its domestic flights in January 2020 in direct response to the strikes.
HOW MANY PASSENGERS ARE AFFECTED BY THE STRIKES?
With more than 100 flights cancelled last weekend and a further 10 per cent of domestic flights being cancelled in January, tens of thousands of passengers will be affected. News Corp understands around 800 flights will be impacted.
WHAT IS HAPPENING BETWEEN DECEMBER 20 AND JANUARY 3, 2020?
Jetstar pilots and ground staff have vowed not to strike and will be working during this period — will all flights going ahead at this stage.
WHAT WILL JETSTAR DO TO ENSURE THERE ARE ENOUGH WORKERS HELPING WITH BAGGAGE AND OTHER ISSUES?
In a statement on Monday, Jetstar has stated it would use third party suppliers for tasks such as loading bags and operating tugs as workers belonging to the Transport Workers Union continue to strike.
WHAT IS JETSTAR DOING TO HELP PASSENGERS BEFORE DECEMBER 20 IF THERE’S A STRIKE?
Jetstar are offering to move passengers to an alternative flight, or they can also receive a refund if they no longer wish to travel, or they can move their travel dates at no additional cost – they get the choice upfront.
WHAT DO PASSENGERS BOOKED ON JETSTAR FLIGHTS NEED TO DO BEFORE JANUARY 3 IF THEY’RE CONCERNED?
If a flight is cancelled, Jetstar will contact customers as soon as possible, but if anyone is concerned about their flights they should contact Jetstar on 13 15 38.
WHAT WILL JETSTAR DO WITH FLIGHTS IT CAN STILL RUN?
Jetstar will fly where possible, but will move as many passengers as possible off cancelled Jetstar flights on to flights within the Qantas Group. Those who cannot be accommodated with another flight will be refunded.
WILL JETSTAR REFUND ALL TICKETS, NOT JUST THOSE WHO BOUGHT A REFUNDABLE TICKET?
Jetstar has confirmed to News Corp it will refund anyone who has a plane ticket for a flight that has been or is about to be cancelled because of the strikes — no matter what kind of ticket it is.
HOW FAST WILL REFUNDS OCCUR?
Jetstar has told News Corp refunds could be made within days after notifying passengers of their flight being cancelled. News Corp has requested further clarification on this.
WILL THERE BE ANY DOMESTIC ROUTES DEFINITELY AFFECTED IN JANUARY?
No single domestic flight route will be affected by the strikes.
Jetstar has said it is reviewing all domestic flights and are reducing their frequency on routes were the have a large number of flights each day.
They will consolidate passengers on a smaller number of services. They started contacting affected customers today and expect to finish by tomorrow.
ARE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS AFFECTED BY THE STRIKE?
All international flights in December and January are unaffected. But the budget airline is looking to sell three 787-8 aircraft on international routes after a review of its fleet found the planes were making a financial loss.
A final decision about the three planes will be announced by March 2020, and could impact those who use Jetstar to fly to Honolulu and parts of South East Asia.