heaps of buyers, page-7

Article on Bloomberg re. Industrial Action by Engineers..

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aX.BPDF36_xM&refer=home
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antas Faces Industrial Action By Engineers Over Pay Offer

By Angela Macdonald-Smith

May 10 (Bloomberg) -- Qantas Airways Ltd., Australia's biggest airline, faces overtime bans and stop-work meetings by maintenance engineers starting next week, after refusing to improve a pay offer.

The actions, notified by the engineers' labor association, will probably result in delays for passengers on May 16 and May 23, Sydney-based Qantas said late yesterday in an e-mailed statement. The airline said it plans to ensure all travelers reach their destination on those days.

Qantas is refusing to break its wages policy of 3 percent annual pay increases and a 1 percent additional pension contribution. The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association has rejected the offer at a time when the inflation rate is 4.2 percent, the Sun-Herald said May 4, citing President Paul Cousins.

``Against a background of lengthy enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations over 19 months, and the union reneging on its `in-principle' agreement, the ALAEA is now choosing to disrupt Qantas customers,'' Qantas Chief Executive Officer Geoff Dixon said in the statement. ``Qantas will not compromise its future in this highly competitive industry.''

The labor association told Qantas overtime bans will start May 15 and that four-hour stop-work meetings will be held May 16 and May 23, the airline said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Angela Macdonald-Smith in Sydney at [email protected]
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Does anybody think this will be resolved before action on 16/23? This is obviously weighing in on the SP..

nelson