Industrial tensions at Qantas have resurfaced just as families gear up for the September-October school break. The Transport Workers Union (TWU) confirmed on 18 September that 650 Qantas Ground Services employees have voted to walk off the job for 24 hours on Thursday 24 September, covering freight operations and QantasLink regional flights out of Sydney. Talks at the Fair Work Commission over pay, job security and safety have dragged for 11 months. TWU secretary Michael Kaine accuses Qantas of pitting subsidiaries against each other to drive down wages, saying the airline’s “belligerent” stance leaves workers no option but to strike. Qantas says contingency rosters will protect customers, but past disputes have seen delays ripple across the network, with freight backlogs hitting Australia Post and time-sensitive exporters. Up to 100 regional services could face rescheduling or bus transfers, affecting business travellers to Dubbo, Albury and Wagga Wagga as well as FIFO mining crews. For mobility planners, the advice is clear: avoid same-day connections through Sydney on 24 September, build extra layover buffers and warn travelling staff of potential baggage delays. Companies shipping samples or critical spare parts via Qantas Freight may need alternative carriers or earlier lodgement. The action highlights lingering industrial unrest after Qantas illegally outsourced 1,800 ground-handling jobs during the pandemic—a move the High Court ruled against in 2025. Until a new enterprise agreement is struck, further rolling stoppages remain on the table.
Source: ABC News
