Qantas strike-free for four years

THE Transport Workers Union has backed away from threats to challenge a ban on industrial action against Qantas.

THE Transport Workers Union has backed away from threats to challenge a ban on industrial action against Qantas, leaving the airline free of strikes by three unions for up to four years.

Tony Sheldon, the union's federal secretary had threatened to seek a stay in the Federal Court on the Fair Work Australia ruling last month banning industrial action.

Following a meeting of the union's committee of management yesterday, Mr Sheldon shifted ground, dropping the threat to seek a stay or launch a separate appeal to the FWA decision.

He said the TWU would "fully support" a separate appeal by the pilots union against the FWA ruling. However, he said the TWU would not seek to be a party to those proceedings.

The Australian understands the union received legal advice that any stay application would fail. It is believed the union did not believe it was worth spending money fighting a legal challenge that was already being run by the pilots.

Qantas said its customers could book flights with confidence, given there would be no industrial action by the TWU and unions representing pilots and licensed engineers for up to four years.

Qantas spokeswoman Olivia Wirth said the new workplace agreements would now be determined by the independent umpire for all three unions: "Our message to customers is that you can continue to book with Qantas with absolute confidence."

"Fair Work Australia put a stop to all industrial action over three weeks ago which meant that Qantas customers could once again book flights with the knowledge that their flights would not be disrupted by industrial action. This has seen customers return to flying with Qantas."

Mr Sheldon said the union would be calling for an aviation award to be established across the industry.

Under his plan, which he described as a "front-door way of getting our job-security arrangements up", the union would apply to the industrial tribunal to have increased minimum pay rates apply across the aviation sector.

"Qantas management have been saying that the reason they shut down their hard-working Australian workforce is because of industry pressures", Mr Sheldon said. "If Qantas management are serious about staying competitive in the Australian aviation industry, they will support an industry-wide award."

Ms Wirth said there was already an Australian aviation industry award for ground handling staff. "Qantas pays well above this award. There is a review in place for this award due to take place early next year and we will be participating in that review," she said.

Arbitration of the dispute between the airline and the TWU is expected to drag on for months, with the union believed to be proposing hearings in March next year.

It is believed the union has also yet to make clear whether it will have any elements of the proposed deal agreed before arbitration, leaving open the possibility that all aspects would be left for Fair Work Australia to arbitrate.

Significant progress has been made between the airline and the engineers union and there is a prospect a settlement can be reached by Christmas.