Airline crisis talks break down
AAP
Airline crisis talks break down
January 25, 2005 - 4:44PM AEDT
Crisis talks between cabin crew and Australian Airlines aimed at avoiding strike action that could ground thousands of holidaymakers have ended unsuccessfully.
About 300 cabin crew, employed by Qantas subsidiary Australian Airlines, are deadlocked over pay and conditions.
The parties are negotiating a new three-year enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) after the previous contract ran out on December 31.
Cabin crew, represented by the international division of the Flight Attendants Association of Australia (FAAA), want better control of their rosters and a 17 per cent payrise over three years.
Qantas has said it cannot agree to the demands and accused the union of "holding a gun" to consumers heads.
Cabin crew took their industrial dispute to the federal umpire in an effort to settle the conflict and avoid strike action they claim they will be forced to take if the company doesn't engage in reasonable negotiations.
FAAA national industrial officer Matt Warburton said the conciliation had not been successful.
"We didn't reach agreement today in the Industrial Relations Commission," Mr Warburton said.
"The company have not moved and are unwilling to move their latest offer in any way.
"So now we are in discussions with our delegates and we'll have further comment to make after we've had those discussions about how we should proceed from here."
Comment was being sought from Qantas.
© 2005 AAP
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