Qantas hit by long weekend strike

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) is targeting busiest weekend to delay and disrupt Qantas customers by organizing more strike action on Friday, the Australian airline Qantas said on Monday. The TWU announced on Monday that its members will stop work for one hour at 8 a.m. (local time) on Friday at all major Australian airports. Qantas says the strike will disrupt the travels plans of thousands of people including football fans traveling to Melbourne for the AFL Grand Final, rugby league fans traveling from New Zealand to Sydney for the NRL Grand Final and families traveling interstate for school holidays and the long weekend in some parts of Australia. "Due to the size of demand, we are excited to provide additional seats to cater for fans," said Qantas acting regional general manager New Zealand and Pacific Islands, Shirley Field. Friday's planned strike by 3,800 baggage handlers, ground staff and other Qantas employees is part of an ongoing campaign of protected industrial action over pay and conditions. Qantas said the TWU was holding passengers to ransom and trying to maximize disruption. Qantas argues the union's claim for a 15 percent pay increase over the next three years is unsustainable. Qantas Group Executive Olivia Wirth said the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association has also instructed its members to strike for one hour in the late afternoon in Sydney on Tuesday and in Melbourne on Friday, causing expected delays for " several thousand" passengers. Meanwhile, international air travelers will face delays at Australian airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Cairns during the two coming weeks as customs officers take industrial action amid a standoff over pay and conditions.