NSW: Workers threaten industrial action over wages
SYDNEY, April 10 AAP - Qantas maintenance workers have threatened to disrupt flightsand cause delays for travellers through industrial action unless Qantas offers a wageincrease.
Australian Workers' Union (AWU) organiser Matt Thistlethwaite told 200 maintenanceworkers who marched on the Qantas domestic terminal this morning he was hopeful an agreementcould be reached during talks today and tomorrow.
But he said workers had been repeatedly let down during eight months of negotiationswith the airline.
"Unless you come up with some sort of real wage increase in the next couple of weeks,unless you listen to our demands ... then we are going to escalate this dispute," he toldthe rally.
"There is going to be disruption to the travelling public, there will be disruptionto flight schedules.
"We don't want to do that but Qantas leaves us with no alternative."
The protest came after Qantas yesterday said it was optimistic the pay dispute wouldbe resolved by the end of the week.
Maintenance workers have been battling against a year-long wage freeze, staging industrialaction in Sydney and Melbourne over the past eight months.
The Transport Workers' Union (TWU) has negotiated a three-year pay rise of three percent a year for baggage handlers, freight workers and ramp staff.
Mr Thistlethwaite said the union used its industrial muscle and threats of strikesto secure the deal while maintenance workers tried to achieve a raise by being sympatheticto Qantas' position.
"Unfortunately we believe that this is due the industrial muscle that the TWU haveshown Qantas," he told reporters.
"They've said that if they don't get an outcome, that they would disrupt flights.
"We've taken a responsible approach to this dispute ... and unfortunately, Qantas haveshown contempt."
Senior AWU and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union members will meet with Qantasmanagement in Melbourne this afternoon, Mr Thistlethwaite said.
Qantas said it would also meet with 50 union officials and the ACTU in Sydney tomorrow.
Comment was being sought from Qantas.
AAP aa/sal/ph/bwl
KEYWORD: QANTAS WAGE PROTEST LEAD
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