Qantas Ground Crews Walked Out at Five Airports, and Qantas Expects No Disruption

Hundreds of members of the Transport Workers Union employed by Qantas Ground Services stopped work for 24 hours on Wednesday 28 October. The stoppage covered Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth airports. The workers handle Qantas Freight and some QantasLink operations in Sydney, so the action is aimed at a narrower part of the operation than a typical airline strike.

Qantas says the striking staff do not service its domestic or international flights, or QantasLink outside Sydney, and the airline said it has contingency plans and expects no disruption. It reports that an earlier round of action in September caused no disruption to Sydney QantasLink flights either. Travelers with Qantas bookings therefore have little reason to change plans, though checking flight status on the day is always sensible.

The union is seeking more full-time jobs and guaranteed hours, bringing the workers under a single Qantas banner, which it argues would reduce safety failings, and pay in line with industry standards after what it calls a decade of wage suppression. Qantas says its offer includes back pay to September 2025, pay increases of up to 26 percent over the life of the agreement, more full-time opportunities and guaranteed part-time hours.

Reports differ on what happens next: one article’s summary calls the action a this-week event, while a union quote refers to striking next week, so further stoppages are possible. Anyone flying with Qantas in coming days should keep an eye on the airline’s travel alerts.

Sources: HR Leader, Travel Monitor