Qantas engineers walk off job on one of the busiest travel days of the year

Qantas engineers have walked off the job at airports around the country on one of the busiest travel days of the year, leaving travellers worried about their plans.

Qantas line maintenance workers around the country have walked off the job on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Engineers have halted work completely from 3.30am on Friday at airports in the major cities over better pay and work conditions.

Only Canberra and Darwin’s airports will be unaffected by the industrial action, which is due to end at 7.30am on Saturday.

Qantas Engineers’ Alliance members of three unions have walked off the job after a collapse in negotiations over pay with the airline.

A Qantas spokesperson said the airline has employed several contingencies, including additional aircraft and crews, and they are confident customers will be unaffected by the industrial action.

“Around 160 AMEs are rostered on during Friday’s industrial action and only members of the Alliance unions can take action,” an airline spokesperson said.

Qantas engineers are walking off the job for 24 hours. Picture: NewsWire / Ben Clark

The airline does not anticipate any delays or cancelled flights. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The airline does not anticipate any delays or cancelled flights as a result of the industrial action.

“Our teams are working hard to ensure that this industrial action has minimal impact on customers’ holiday plans and we have put a number of contingencies in place and extra resourcing on the ground to ensure our customers get away as planned,” the spokesperson said.

“As always at this time of year our aircraft are full and airports are busy so we urge customers to give themselves more time to get through security and get to their aircraft.”

The planned strikes coincide with one of the busiest travel days of the year as schools in many states break for the holidays.

However, a Sydney airport spokesperson confirmed they were not expecting any major delays or setbacks as a result of the strikes.

“We will support Qantas in implementing their contingency plans to minimise the impact on passengers,” the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for Melbourne Airport confirmed they would work with Qantas during the strike, and do not expect any delays as a result.

Qantas said travellers will be unaffected by the strike. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The airline has hit back at the union’s claims. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The Qantas Engineers’ Alliance is pushing for a 5 per cent pay increase per year, with a 15 per cent first-year increase, as compensation for the 3.5 years of wage freezes and to bring the wages to industry standard.

“Workers were asked by Qantas in good faith to not take industrial action as a commitment to resolve bargaining,” Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union national secretary Steve Murphy said.

“Aircraft maintenance workers are feeling disrespected by the behaviour of Qantas and we all know how that feels.

“Workers have no other choice now, that during the holiday period, they will be taking industrial action to bring Qantas back to the bargaining table.

“Qantas is to blame if there’s any disruption to commuters over the holiday period.”

In response, a Qantas spokesperson claimed the union was “seeking over 40 per cent in pay increases over three years, which is not sustainable”.

“Qantas has offered pay increases, new career pathways and more advanced training, which would result in take-home pay increasing an average of 15 per cent over the same period,” they said.

The spokesperson added the airline would continue working with the union to come to a resolution.

“We’re offering our engineers a competitive package including pay rises, upskilling and career progression that will enable them to earn significantly more over the next few years,” they said.