2011 Qantas industrial disputes

Disputes between the Australian airline Qantas and trade unions August 2019 February 2017 Qantas Airbus A330-300 arriving at Perth Airport Monty-1.jpg 230px A Qantas Airbus A330 at Perth Airport (2004) yes 2011 02–yes 2012 01http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/qantas-industrial-dispute-ends/2430591.aspx Qantas industrial dispute ends St George & Sutherland Shire Leader Papadakis, Marianna 24 January 2012 29 January 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120413022815/http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/qantas-industrial-dispute-ends/2430591.aspx 13 April 2012 dead Worldwide The 2011 Qantas industrial disputes were a series of disputes between the Australian airline Qantas and a number of trade unions during much of 2011 and the start of 2012. The disputes commenced in late 2010, when Qantas and unions commenced bargaining for new enterprise agreements. The bargaining became more heated when the airline announced its intentions to launch a new airline in Asia. During the bargaining, engineers, pilots and baggage handlers carried out a number of protected industrial actions, culminating in the decision by Qantas, on 29 October 2011, to lock out those employees (with the consequence that the entire Qantas mainline fleet would be grounded).http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/qantas-grounds-all-flights-20111029-1mpao.html Qantas grounds all flights The Sydney Morning Herald 29 October 2011 29 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111030045129/http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/qantas-grounds-all-flights-20111029-1mpao.html 30 October 2011 After an application by the Federal Minister for Workplace Relations, Fair Work Australia terminated the industrial action with effect from 2 am on 31 October 2011.Fair Work Australia order to get Qantas back in air http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/fair-work-australia-order-to-get-qantas-back-in-air/story-e6freuyi-1226181016392 31 October 2011 The Daily Telegraph 31 October 2011 Background In mid-2011, Qantas and the Transport Workers Union of Australia (TWU) went into industrial bargaining, where TWU employees demanded that the airline guarantee further improvements in working conditions and better wages.http://www.heraldsun.com.au/businessold/qantas-warned-of-mid-year-strikes/story-e6frfh4f-1226029692285 Herald Sun 29 March 2011 Qantas warned of mid-year strikes 5 November 2011 In the nine months leading up to October, 200 meetings related to industrial bargaining were held. Industrial action by unions caused disruptions and delays to Qantas' flight schedule which cost the airline A$68 million.http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/alan-joyce-termination-of-qantas-strikes-only-option/story-e6freuzi-1226180638351 Alan Joyce 'Termination of Qantas strikes only option' 30 October 2011 The Sunday Telegraph 30 October 2011 On 10 July 2011, long-haul pilots who were members of the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) voted to take protected industrial action against the airline, for the first time since 1966. The president of AIPA, Barry M. Jackson, said "The issue that pushed us towards taking protected industrial action is a fundamental one – keeping Qantas pilots operating Qantas flights. We now have a management team in charge who believe you can shift operations to Asia, outsource the jobs of Australian Qantas pilots and not do any damage to the Qantas brand in the process."http://www.perthnow.com.au/business/business-old/qantas-pilots-strike-for-long-haul-jobs/story-e6frg2qu-1226092482311 Qantas pilots strike for long-haul jobs Perth Now 11 July 2011 29 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110910132704/http://www.perthnow.com.au/business/business-old/qantas-pilots-strike-for-long-haul-jobs/story-e6frg2qu-1226092482311 10 September 2011 dead Announcement of new strategy On 16 August 2011, Qantas announced plans to launch a new airline in Asia and move away from the North Atlantic which had been the airline's traditional market.Lynam Joe Qantas boss's risky strategy to refocus airline on Asia https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15506391 BBC News 29 October 2011 30 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111029171919/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15506391 29 October 2011 The airline said that it would establish Jetstar Japan as a low-cost carrier, along with a premium carrier to be based at either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/editorial/qantas-flies-into-asias-century-20110817-1iy23.html Qantas flies into Asia's century The Sydney Morning Herald 18 August 2011 30 October 2011 At the same time the airline announced there would be 1,000 job losses.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-16/unions-slam-qantas-over-job-cuts/2841954 'Darkest day' as Qantas plans Asian move ABC News 16 August 2011 30 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110820043211/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-16/unions-slam-qantas-over-job-cuts/2841954 20 August 2011 These plans are expected to increase the market share of Qantas by making it more competitive.https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/qantas-turns-to-asia-for-growth/news-story/c1c0393271d490066b1684886110dd28 Qantas turns to Asia for growth Creedy Steve The Australian 17 August 2011 2011-08-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20110817025218/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/qantas-turns-to-asia-for-growth/story-e6frg95x-1226116319898 subscription live 30 October 2011 Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Jeff Lawrence described the day as the "darkest" in the airline's history. Grounding and employee lock-out Qantas grounds all flights in labour dispute At a press conference on 29 October 2011, CEO Alan Joyce announced the immediate—and unprecedentedhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-30/joyce-defends-qantas-grounding/3608780/?site=newcastle Joyce defends Qantas grounding as backlash grows ABC News 30 October 2011 30 October 2011—grounding of all Australian domestic and international Qantas flights, effective 5pm AEDT, as a result of the proposed lock-out of the airline's staff, beginning at 8 pm AEDT on 31 October, in response to continued industrial action against the company. Joyce said that Qantas subsidiaries Jetstar Airways, QantasLink and Jetconnect would not be affected by the grounding, along with Express Freighters Australia and Atlas Air freight aircraft (operating on behalf of Qantas Freight and Australian airExpress).Govindasamy Siva Qantas suspends operations after locking out striking employees http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/qantas-suspends-operations-after-locking-out-striking-employees-364045/ Flight International 29 October 2011 30 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111031160258/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/qantas-suspends-operations-after-locking-out-striking-employees-364045/ 31 October 2011 Qantas said it would reimburse accommodation costs for those left stranded by the fleet grounding, and refund those who were expected to fly with the airline.Drew Kevin Qantas grounds worldwide fleet over dispute http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016643536_qantas30.html The New York Times 29 October 2011 30 October 2011 Impact and response Following the abrupt announcement of the suspension of operations, all Qantas aircraft already on the ground, regardless of whether they were in maintenance or serviceable, were grounded, and all passengers who had boarded aircraft were instructed to disembark and collect their baggage. Multiple reports suggested that some aircraft turned around during taxiing for take-off.http://www.newser.com/story/132133/qantas-grounds-entire-fleet-in-labor-dispute.html Qantas Grounds Entire Fleet in Labor Dispute Newser 29 October 2011 30 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111030120641/http://www.newser.com/story/132133/qantas-grounds-entire-fleet-in-labor-dispute.html 30 October 2011http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-29/qantas-passengers-stranded-worldwide/3608372/?site=newcastle Qantas passengers stranded worldwide ABC News 29 October 2011 30 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111101091515/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-29/qantas-passengers-stranded-worldwide/3608372/?site=newcastle 1 November 2011 Flights that were in the air at the time of the announcement continued to their next destinations and were then grounded. The lock-out was expected to affect 68,000 to 80,000 passengers in the first day,http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-30/irate-passengers-vow-to-abandon-qantas/3608640 Irate passengers vow to abandon Qantas ABC News 30 October 2011 30 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111030080616/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-30/irate-passengers-vow-to-abandon-qantas/3608640 30 October 2011http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/airline-that-stops-a-nation-20111029-1mpgc.html Airline that stops a nation The Sydney Morning Herald 29 October 2011 30 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111030045124/http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/airline-that-stops-a-nation-20111029-1mpgc.html 30 October 2011http://www.afr.com/rw/2009-2014/AFR/2011/10/29/Photos/467cc40e-01f9-11e1-b41b-b3c9d6737fa4_About%20Qantas%20-%20Media%20Room%20-%20Media%20Releases.pdf Qantas responds to industrial action Qantas 29 October 2011 30 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120403043600/http://www.afr.com/rw/2009-2014/AFR/2011/10/29/Photos/467cc40e-01f9-11e1-b41b-b3c9d6737fa4_About%20Qantas%20-%20Media%20Room%20-%20Media%20Releases.pdf 3 April 2012 to result in the cancellation of 600 flights and to cost the airline in excess of $20 million each day. Bookings of 17 heads of state attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth were also affected.http://www.theage.com.au/national/qantas-grounded-20111029-1mpw2.html Qantas grounded The Age 30 October 2011 30 October 2011 The grounding was expected to cause disastrous consequences to the Australian economy.COMMENT: Qantas grounding – who will blink first? http://australianaviation.com.au/2011/10/comment-qantas-grounding-who-will-blink-first/ Australian Aviation 29 October 2011 30 October 2011 Australian Senator Nick Xenophon criticised the action as "militant management".http://www.smh.com.au/business/qantas-has-militant-management-xenophon-20111029-1mpmp.html Qantas has militant management: Xenophon The Sydney Morning Herald 30 October 2011 30 October 2011 TWU secretary Tony Sheldon labelled the move by Qantas as "a pre-conceived, pre-planned attempt to hoodwink the shareholders, hoodwink the Australian community. Now it's trying to hoodwink the company's workforce".Unions blast 'reckless' Qantas grounding http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-29/twu-reaction-to-qantas-groundings/3608378 ABC News 29 October 2011 30 October 2011 Tony Abbott, then Leader of the Opposition, blamed the disputes on the government decision not to intervene, and said that the grounding was avoidable.Government to blame for Qantas grounding, Tony Abbott says http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/government-to-blame-for-qantas-grounding-tony-abbott-says/story-e6frg6nf-1226180637327 https://web.archive.org/web/20111030115956/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/government-to-blame-for-qantas-grounding-tony-abbott-says/story-e6frg6nf-1226180637327 dead 30 October 2011 Australian Associated Press The Australian 30 October 2011 30 October 2011Liberal leader Tony Abbott says Qantas move was 'avoidable' http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/liberal-leader-tony-abbott-says-qantas-move-was-avoidable/story-fn7x8me2-1226180428845 Australian Associated Press Herald Sun 29 October 2011 30 October 2011 Then Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, requested an urgent meeting at a Fair Work Australia tribunal: "As a result of the dramatic escalation of that dispute the government has taken a rare decision to make an application to Fair Work Australia to have the industrial action terminated and have Fair Work Australia deal with this dispute". A hearing was held in Melbourne at 10 pm on 29 October.http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/qantas-hearing-adjourned-till-2pm-sunday/story-e6frf7jx-1226180571383 Qantas hearing adjourned till 2 pm Sunday Herald Sun 30 October 2011 30 October 2011 Richard Woodward, vice-president of the AIPA, said, "Alan Joyce is holding a knife to the nation's throat".Feast Lincoln https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qantas-grounding-idUSTRE79S0RU20111030 Stranded Qantas passengers await labor ruling Reuters 29 October 2011 30 October 2011 Despite the barrage of criticism, one newspaper published claims that the grounding was backed by the flight attendants' union.Ironside Robyn Flight attendants' union backs Qantas CEO Alan Joyce in a standoff with other unions http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/flight-attendants-union-backs-qantas-ceo-alan-joyce-in-standoff-with-other-unions/story-e6freqmx-1226180670353 The Courier-Mail 30 October 2011 30 October 2011 Qantas' rival airlines responded positively to the fleet grounding. Virgin Australia offered stranded passengers a discount on flight fares. Virgin also announced that it would provide an additional 43,000 seats in the coming weeks to accommodate Qantas passengers. Air New Zealand were sluggish, but after several requests agreed to cover Virgin and Qantas' trans-Tasman flights, to free up New Zealand based aircraft and crews for Virgin to use in the Australian domestic market.http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/live-fwa-orders-qantas-dispute-terminated-20111030-1mq0o.html Live: FWA orders Qantas dispute terminated The Sydney Morning Herald 31 October 2011 31 October 2011 AirAsia X offered discounted fares for passengers holding a valid Qantas ticket to any AirAsia X destination.http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/virgin-to-accommodate-qantas-passengers/story-fn7x8me2-1226180358631 Virgin, AirAsia offer special fares to Qantas passengers Herald Sun 29 October 2011 30 October 2011 According to Qantas, the industrial action by the three labour unions cost the airline A$194 million (US$195 million).http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-312410687.html https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154133/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-312410687.html usurped 24 September 2015 Qantas Says Industrial Dispute Cuts 1H Profit 1 January 2012 Air Transport World 8 May 2015 HighBeam Research subscription Fair Work Australia orders In the early hours of 31 October, a full bench of Fair Work Australia handed down orders that all industrial action taken by Qantas and the involved trade unions be terminated immediately.http://www.fwa.gov.au/decisionssigned/html/2011fwafb7444.htm [2011] FWAFB 7444 Fwa.gov.au 20 September 2011 31 October 2011http://www.fwa.gov.au/awardsandorders/html/pr516214.htm PR516214 Fwa.gov.au 31 October 2011 31 July 2012 https://archive.today/20120731035258/http://www.fwa.gov.au/awardsandorders/html/pr516214.htm dead The order was requested by the federal government amid fears that an extended period of grounding would do significant damage to the national economy, especially with regards to the tourism and mining sectors.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-31/qantas-action-terminated-fair-work-rules/3609158 Qantas to fly after dispute terminated ABC News 30 October 2011 31 October 2011 The government elected not to use its powers under Section 431 of the Fair Work Act 2009, which enabled a minister to unilaterally make a declaration to terminate industrial action.Gillard welcomes Fair Work decision http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3351825.htm Australian Broadcasting Corporation 30 October 2011 On 8 August 2012, Fair Work Australia rejected key union pay and contract-worker restriction demands. The unions had flagged the possibility of more disruptions.Jones Tony FWA rejects union's Qantas worker demands http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2012/s3563728.htm Lateline 8 August 2012 References 30em External links What is the Qantas dispute all about? ABC News, 29 October 2011 Rolling coverage: Qantas grounds fleet 29 October 2011 news.com.au https://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/qantas-grounds-entire-fleet/news-story/69b641361c6fe4fe05e3c6ee8e4dfa8d live https://web.archive.org/web/20111030071117/http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/qantas-grounds-entire-fleet/story-e6frfq80-1226180315331 30 October 2011 Prime Minister moves to end Qantas grounding https://web.archive.org/web/20111101131518/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/prime-minister-moves-to-end-qantas-grounding/story-e6frg6n6-1226180469900 2011-11-01The Australian, 30 October 2011 Editorial: Qantas faces turbulence Adelaide Now, 29 October 2011 Fair Work Act 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20111009105050/http://www.fwa.gov.au/index.cfm?pagename=legislationfwact 9 October 2011 Fair Work Australia Aviation Australia Qantas Unions Qantas trade union disputes Qantas trade union disputes Qantas trade union disputes Category:Aviation strikes