Aussie airline Qantas has taken a step towards resolving its ongoing industrial disputes, with the agreement of a deal with short-haul cabin crew.
The three-year enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) applies to some 2,150 customer service managers and flight attendants who are members of the Flight Attendants Association of Australia’s domestic and regional division.
Lyell Strambi, Qantas’ group executive operations, said the airline was pleased to have reached an agreement with the crew.
“We have been able to negotiate a good outcome with the FAAA, providing a 3 per cent pay increase each year for three years as well as some changes to increments and improved flexibility for Qantas.”
Qantas is continuing the arbitration process with three other unions: the pilots’ union, licensed engineers’ union and Transport Workers Union.
Strambi sought to reassure passengers that they can book flights with Qantas “with absolute confidence”.
“The arbitration process is run separately for each union,” he said.
“Irrespective of the timeframe for the Fair Work Australia process, the unions are unable to take industrial action for the period of arbitration and for the period of the EBA determination – which could be up to four years.”
Alan Joyce, Qantas’ CEO, took the decision to ground all of Qantas' aircraft for several days in October, after which the government intervened to avert further strikes.