Australia's aviation industry was thrown into turmoil yesterday, as 6,000 staff at flag carrier Qantas began a 12-hour strike to press home demands for better pay.
Qantas canceled 22 domestic flights from Sydney -- the country's busiest airport -- and although its first flight of the day left on time passengers were warned to expect lengthy delays.
Most Qantas international flights were expected to operate on time during the strike but overseas travelers were told to arrive three hours early.
Friday is traditionally one of the busiest days of the week for the Australian aviation industry and since the demise earlier this year of its main domestic competitor, Ansett, Qantas has carried the vast majority of passengers within Australia.
The strike, which began at 4am Thursday across Australia, was by members of the Australian Services Union -- mainly baggage handlers, check-in and other clerical staff and some engineers and maintenance workers.
At the Qantas domestic terminal in Sydney, 10 check-in staff and managers were on duty.
One passenger caught up in the delays was Commonwealth Games lawn bowler Adam Jeffery, arriving in Sydney from Manchester, England. His early morning connecting flight to Canberra was canceled.
"I have been in the air for 30 hours so it makes little difference to me. But hopefully I will be home at some time today," he said.
In Melbourne, early flights were running at least two hours behind schedule and in Brisbane, flights also were canceled and waiting times at check-in counters soared.
"Queue waiting times have gone through the roof today," union official Aaron Keeves said.
ASU talks with the airline broke down on Monday.
The ASU is demanding 5 percent annual pay increases over the next two years as a reward for agreeing to an earlier pay freeze. Qantas has offered 3 percent.
Qantas staff who are members of other unions have agreed to the package.
RSS