Two of Australia's biggest airports could be affected, as the Australian Services Union Victoria asks up to 1,000 of its Qantas members to back industrial action.
Check-in and customer service staff will take part in the ballot which could see Qantas employees walk off the job at Melbourne and Sydney airport, The Australian reported.
Australian Services Union Victorian private sector branch secretary Ingrid Stitt told the source that the union had applied for the ballot to Fair Work Australia this week because the airline refused to agree to the union's five percent pay rise and increased job security.
"Our members are pretty angry and frustrated that Qantas has even failed to give them a pay offer after eight or nine months of negotiations,"she said.
In response to the union's ballot Qantas has called for the union to return to the table for further talks.
"Instead of threatening industrial action which will impact on passengers we would encourage the union to return to the negotiating table," a Qantas spokesman told e-Travel Blackboard.
"Qantas has robust contingency plans in place to minimise any impact on passengers should the union process with any industrial action."
Check-in and customer service staff will take part in the ballot which could see Qantas employees walk off the job at Melbourne and Sydney airport, The Australian reported.
Australian Services Union Victorian private sector branch secretary Ingrid Stitt told the source that the union had applied for the ballot to Fair Work Australia this week because the airline refused to agree to the union's five percent pay rise and increased job security.
"Our members are pretty angry and frustrated that Qantas has even failed to give them a pay offer after eight or nine months of negotiations,"she said.
In response to the union's ballot Qantas has called for the union to return to the table for further talks.
"Instead of threatening industrial action which will impact on passengers we would encourage the union to return to the negotiating table," a Qantas spokesman told e-Travel Blackboard.
"Qantas has robust contingency plans in place to minimise any impact on passengers should the union process with any industrial action."
