Qantas Case Study

QANTAS

- Action by Qantas to casualise their work force, axe some jobs and established a low cost carrier Jetstar

based on poorer wages and conditions and outsource an increasingly amount of functions across the entire

business has created industrial tension.

- Qantas has been bombarded by industrial relations issues recently with engineers, baggage handlers, pilots

and flight attendants. Employees have taken overt industrial action such as a go-slow campaign by baggage

handlers in protest against new rules which force them to carry heavier bags.

Pilots Dispute (2010)

- Qantas employs around 1700 pilots and due to managements decision or plans to offshore pilot jobs (cut

costs) has sparked industrial turmoil.

- The AIPA (Australian International Pilots Association) believes Qantas attempted to avoid Australian

employment laws by hiring pilots in other countries in order to cut costs.

- Pilots and unions met and considered industrial action that did not contravene the Fair Work Act such as

refusing to work outside scheduled hours or to fill in for sick colleagues or to meet increased demand.

Engineers Dispute (2009/10)

- Qantas employs around 190 professional engineers in a workforce of 5,500. They are responsible for

maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the Qantas fleet and must sign off on significiant maintenance

work before