QF group executive Olivia Wirth said the carrier was currently assessing the impact of the walkout on both domestic and international flights, with staff involved working as baggage handlers, ground staff, catering, freight and in other transport roles.
“Our priority is the Australian travelling public and we are currently developing contingency plans to minimize disruptions to our customers as a result of the union’s action,” she said.
Wirth claimed the union was intentionally disrupting the travel plans of Australians, “effectively holding passengers to ransom as it seeks pay rises and attempting to place restrictions on Qantas.”
She said the coordinated campaign would see pilots, engineers and the TWU all taking some form of industrial action over this period.
The TWU members are already the highest paid in the Australian aviation industry and the walkout follows a new deal signed by the union with Virgin Australia which is 12 percent lower than Qantas rates.
“The union is giving Virgin a competitive advantage over Qantas by agreeing to Virgin paying its staff significantly less than Qantas, and not imposing site rates,” Wirth said.
