\u201cThe changes we are seeking are modest and reasonable, including rostering improvements to protect pilots\u2019 health and wellbeing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The issue related to a long-haul agreement covering about 1700 pilots operating widebody aircraft.<\/p>\n
The Qantas widebody fleet includes the A330 servicing Perth-Auckland flights three times a week.<\/p>\n
The pilots are seeking three \u201cgolden days\u201d of leave every two months where they can take leave days and cannot be called up for duty. <\/p>\n
They also want a longer notice period for late-night callouts.<\/p>\n
And they are seeking a pay increase of up to 4%, rather than the 3% Qantas offered.<\/p>\n
Before employees in Australia can take protected industrial action, they must apply to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to hold a protected action ballot.<\/p>\n
Strikes, work bans and lockouts are all examples of industrial action. <\/p>\n
The FWC approved the protected action ballot order on Friday. Voting starts next Monday and ends on August 3. <\/p>\n
Industrial action proposals in this case ranged from bans on responding to texts from work to strikes lasting as long as 24 hours.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll we have asked from management is a little recognition and [a] little respect,\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, young people are questioning piloting as a profession because it\u2019s too uncertain, stressful and comes with significant sacrifice.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we let Qantas management erode the conditions of its respected and loyal pilots, the future of the airline looks bleak.\u201d<\/p>\n
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace<\/a> today said the airline was disappointed at the union.<\/p>\n Wallace said the airline had kept up with negotiations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve offered pilots significant pay increases as well as long sought-after changes to conditions, but there is a limit to what we can afford before it impacts our ability to offer competitive fares,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe compete against more than 50 international airlines, face rising industry and government costs and are operating in a particularly uncertain global environment,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re committed to reaching an agreement and have sought the assistance of the Fair Work Commission to find a resolution.\u201d<\/p>\n The Qantas Group made a A$1.61 billion ($1.92b) profit<\/a> in the 2025 financial year.<\/p>\n It made a pre-tax underlying profit of A$1.456b ($1.74b) for the six months to December 31<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Project Sunrise<\/a> Airbus A350-1000ULR is expected to fly from France this week, arriving in Melbourne on Friday.<\/p>\n Qantas wants the aircraft to fly directly from Sydney to New York and to London, in what would be the world\u2019s longest regular commercial flights.<\/p>\n The project was announced in 2017 and a dozen A350-1000ULRs were ordered four years ago.<\/p>\n The flights will take up to 22 hours.<\/p>\n