10 Oct 2011

Qantas passengers affected by strike

10:07 pm on 10 October 2011

More than 11,000 Qantas passengers will have their travel plans affected by industrial action at three airports in Australia on Monday.

Qantas says 80 domestic and international flights will be cancelled, delayed or brought forward when engineers walk off the job for four hours this afternoon in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association wants a pay rise of 15% and better job security.

But Qantas says its maintenance engineers are the highest paid in the world, and the current demands are unreasonable.

The airline says it wants to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

More delays at international airports in Australia are likely on Thursday when Customs inspectors stop work over a pay negotiation.

The Community and Public Sector Union has rejected the Federal Government's offer of a pay rise of 9% over three years.