Hundreds of people working for Australia\u2019s largest airline could soon go on strike amid a bitter dispute over pay.<\/p>\n
More than 600 employees of Qantas Ground Services, a subsidiary of Qantas Airlines, are set to vote on whether to take to the picket line over a longstanding row with the airline.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday evening, the Transport Workers Union filed a Protection Action Ballot, giving members the right to vote on industrial action.<\/p>\n
It comes following a bitter dispute over the outsourcing of 1800 ground workers, which the TWU says has impacted the pay, safety and working conditions of QGS-rostered workers.<\/p>\n
However, the airline has insisted any potential industrial action would create minimal impact for passengers, due to the affected workers mainly operating in its freight sector.<\/p>\n
It comes almost a year after a cargo worker, a man in his 40s, was killed at Sydney International Freight Terminal after being struck by a towing vehicle.<\/p>\n
The dispute has seen union bosses accuse Qantas of putting profits over worker and passenger standards.<\/p>\n
Michael Kaine, national secretary for TWU, said that standards for QGS workers \u201ccontinue to be obliterated\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen pay and conditions reach rock-bottom levels, safety suffers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe saw this deadly recipe last year when a Qantas Freight worker was horrifically killed in Sydney.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorkers at QGS, and elsewhere across aviation, are saying enough is enough; it is time for Qantas to invest in its workforce instead of continuing to trash jobs and safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
A spokesman for Qantas said the organisation was eager to find a resolution to the dispute.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no immediate risk of industrial action from this work group,\u201d a spokesman said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are committed to reaching an agreement that includes improved pay and conditions for our people while ensuring we have a sustainable business.\u201d<\/p>\n