Qantas Engineers Launch Strike on First Day of Holiday Travel Season

Workers demand significant pay increases after years of wage freezes, while Qantas assures passengers of minimal disruptions.

Around 500 Qantas engineers began a 24-hour strike early Friday morning, affecting major airports including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.
The strike coincides with the start of the six-week summer travel period, during which 13.5 million travelers are expected to pass through Australia's airports.
Unions representing the engineers are demanding a 15% upfront pay rise and 5% annual increases, citing a 3.5-year wage freeze as justification.
Qantas has offered a 3% annual pay increase over three years, which unions have rejected, leading to a breakdown in negotiations.
Despite the strike, Qantas has implemented contingency measures and stated it does not anticipate delays or cancellations for travelers.