Striking engineers protest outside hotel as Qantas AGM meets in Hobart

Striking Qantas engineers confronted their bosses in Hobart when the company’s executive team flew in for their annual general meeting, amid rolling stop-work strikes nationwide.

Qantas workers strike in Hobart, October 25, 2024. Picture: Nikki Davis Jones

Not even a soaking Hobart downpour could drown out the angry chants outside the Crowne Plaza on Friday as Qantas engineers and unionists gathered to demand a pay rise.

“Hey Qantas, no more delays, it’s time for fair pay!” rang out as the Qantas board held its annual general meeting inside.

While engineers walked off the job across every major Australian city on Friday, Hobart avoided disruption as Qantas doesn’t have a hub in the city.

Adrian Shaw – CEPU state organiser for Tas. Qantas workers strike in Hobart, October 25, 2024. Picture: Nikki Davis Jones

However, that didn’t stop local unionists from making their voices heard, as well as striking engineers from the mainland who flew in to confront their bosses.

Qantas engineers responsible for crucial tasks like final safety checks, towing, and marshaling planes, say they’re long overdue for better pay and conditions.

One engineer, who didn’t want to be named for fear of retaliation, said he’d worked for Qantas for over 30 years but felt let down by the company’s treatment of workers.

“Qantas has become notorious for how badly they treat us,” he said.

“No one wants to train with us anymore or stick around – they’re bleeding workers because the treatment is so bad.”

Steve Murphy national secretary AMWU. Qantas AGM in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Steve Murphy, AMWU National Secretary, echoed those concerns, saying the engineers just want “a slice of the pie.”

“These workers are the reason Qantas has its reputation as the safest airline in the world. Qantas needs to recognise that and give them a fair deal,” Mr Murphy said.

In response, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson announced a one-off $1,000 “thank you” bonus for all non-executive staff, a move affecting 27,000 workers. But Murphy wasn’t impressed, calling it a “Band-Aid solution” that fails to address years of underpayment.

Vanessa Hudson CEO Qantas. Qantas AGM in Hobart at Crowne Plaza hotel. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

It wasn’t just Qantas engineers who showed up for the rally.

A group of striking Tasmanian aviation workers from the state’s north also travelled to Hobart to support their colleagues.

“These engineers are absolutely crucial,” said Mitch Smart, an electrician who has been on strike for 20 weeks. “Qantas doesn’t understand how vital they are to ensuring safe flights. They deserve fair pay.”

Meanwhile, Ms Hudson addressed shareholders and the media inside the Crowne Plaza, making no mention of the protest outside. Instead, she focused on the “positives” of the last financial year, including improved in-flight meals.

Unions rally out the front of Crowne Plaza Hobart where the meeting is held. Qantas AGM in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Qantas insists the strikes, which have been rolling since September, had “no effect” on operations nationwide.

“We were aware of the industrial action planned by some of our engineering work groups. Our teams worked hard to put contingencies in place, and there was no impact on customers,” a Qantas spokesman said.

The engineers are pushing for a new enterprise agreement with a 15 per cent wage increase in the first year, followed by five per cent raises in subsequent years.

Seven negotiations with Qantas have so far failed to find a resolution.