Around 150 workers back next step after year-long wage talks

Around 150 professional engineers working on critical Qantas fleet operations have unanimously backed a move to seek a protected industrial action ballot, escalating a pay dispute that has run for more than a year.

Professionals Australia represents the group, which is predominantly based at Mascot. Their work covers engineering systems across the Qantas fleet, compliance tasks, aircraft introductions, modifications and repairs, as well as engineering authorisations and airworthiness sign-offs.

Because those sign-offs are required for fleet operations, the union argues any industrial action could affect normal airline services as well as longer-term engineering projects.

Professionals Australia NSW director Justine McCarthy said members accepted a pay freeze during COVID and then received wage rises that did not keep pace with inflation.

“They have been negotiating with Qantas for more than a year, but the company has still failed to put forward a reasonable wage offer that recognises their skills, responsibilities and the value they provide to the business,” McCarthy said.

She also pointed to Qantas’ recent underlying profit before tax of $1.46 billion, up 5%, while arguing engineers had fallen behind in real wages even as workloads, responsibilities and productivity increased.

Ballot could cover stop-work and sign-off bans

According to Professionals Australia, members gave Qantas detailed evidence that their productivity had risen and that their roles had expanded as the airline introduced and grew new aircraft fleets.

The proposed ballot would cover several forms of action. They include stop-work periods ranging from one hour to seven days, bans on work tied to specific projects, and bans affecting critical engineering authorisations and sign-offs.

“Our members have unanimously endorsed taking the next step towards protected industrial action because they want Qantas to recognise their true value and deliver a restorative pay increase,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy warned that, if action proceeds, it could disrupt standard Qantas operations and delay projects that the airline considers important to future fleet plans. She added that members do not want that outcome and want Qantas to return to bargaining with what the union considers a fair pay offer.

Qantas had not, in the information provided by Professionals Australia, publicly detailed any revised wage offer, and the union did not state when any ballot would open or close.