I almost let this thread go without a response but I just can't do it.

First, it is not up to QANTAS to decide whether or not to pay for the TWU meeting. If the meeting requires employees to stop work outside of meal breaks then there is a statutory requirement that the employees not be paid for a minimum of 4 hours. There is no choice on the employer to pay because if they do they are breaking the law.

Second, whilst I support the right of employees to take industrial action, until the Workplace Relations Act 1996, there was no "right" to strike. With the implementation of that Act the "right" to strike was introduced along with some fairly specific conditions placed on when and how. This was further clarified with WorkChoices.

So yes, there is a "right to strike" in Australia, subject to certain conditions and limitations. If you believe that your bargaining power gives you the unfettered right to strike and hold a company to ransom then you should not bitch when at the depth of the recession the Company uses its bargaining power to terminate you and your fellows with similar views or reduce your terms and conditions to those of hotel porters (you are afterall just moving luggage from point A to point B, right?) or do both.

and AJ makes how much?

also,
how much does a Singapore 744 Capt make compared to a Q 744 Capt? This is a very top heavy company. Perhaps AJ should follow the lead of JAL before laying people off. Job cuts destroy the public image of Q brand as much as any strike.

Japan Airlines CEO cuts his own salary - now makes less than pilots | Japan Probe

YouTube - JAL CEO Cuts Pay

Mr Epstein (spokesman for QF), pg 4 AFR 23/4/09.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I cannot recall any "industrial action of this nature" being carried out last year.