Apart from the obvious problems this represents not only for Qantas,it's employees and the travel industry in general but I think it also opens up a veritable pandoras box for industrial relations in Australia.
The real danger (if this is not bad enough) is that if this move to cease legal union industrial action by closing down the workplace is successful then it may very well create an industrial precedent.
If any Australian business is experiencing industrial action from a union or a number of unions representing it's workforce it may decide to take the 'QANTAS MANOEUVRE' and close down it's business to remove any union action or effect.
I wonder why QANTAS did not just ask for the FWA to intervene instead of taking the proverbial Bull in a china shop approach instead?
Memories of the domestic dispute are flooding back.