Todays Creedy article in the OZ
QANTAS long-haul pilots are next week set to take their first industrial action in more than four decades after overwhelmingly backing options that include 48-hour rolling stoppages.
Ninety-four per cent of pilots taking part in the ballot voted in favour of taking protected industrial action.
Officials said the vote sent a message to management about the level of pilot support for the pilots association's job security claims.
Australian and International Pilots Association vice-president Richard Woodward would not reveal what action the union was planning, but said it would be obvious to passengers and the union would attempt to minimise disruptions.
"We can't promise that, of course, because other unions are upset with company as well," he said. "But the stuff we initiate, certainly in the initial phases, we'll do our very best to minimise any disruptions to passengers."
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Asked whether a 48-hour stoppage was a possibility, he said the union had to exercise the option within 30 days. "That could be two pilots taking five minutes' stop-work action or it could be the entire pilot body stopping for 48 hours, or anything in between."
Captain Woodward said the union was willing to defer action and seek an extension from Fair Work Australia if Qantas management was willing to enter meaningful negotiations.
Talks have stalled over pay claims and a job security clause that stipulates Qantas-coded flights be flown by Qantas pilots.
Captain Woodward said the pilots had offered an 11 per cent increase in flying hours and rostering efficiencies that would let an already significant pilot surplus almost double.
He said the pilots wanted to see the surplus absorbed into other parts of the group and criticised a company move to let surplus pilots take leave without pay to work for Emirates.
Qantas said it was disappointed by the threat and was prepared to negotiate reasonable increases in pay and conditions, but the demands from the union were " excessive and unsustainable".
"The pilots' union is demanding pay increases, free flights on top of already heavily discounted airfares and a requirement that pilots on all Qantas airlines, including Jetstar, are paid the same high rates as Qantas pilots," it said. "Paying Qantas rates to pilots for our low-cost carrier Jetstar would drive up ticket prices, make Jetstar unprofitable and set precedents for other staff salaries."