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Qantas dispute: Flights 'to stay grounded into Monday' | Qantas dispute: Flights 'to stay grounded into Monday' |
(40 minutes later) | |
Australian airline Qantas says all domestic and international flights will remain grounded until at least midday (01:00 GMT) on Monday, amid an unprecedented industrial dispute. | Australian airline Qantas says all domestic and international flights will remain grounded until at least midday (01:00 GMT) on Monday, amid an unprecedented industrial dispute. |
Australia's work tribunal is meeting and could order an end to the dispute. | Australia's work tribunal is meeting and could order an end to the dispute. |
Nearly 70,000 people have been affected by the cancellation of hundreds of flights in 22 countries. | Nearly 70,000 people have been affected by the cancellation of hundreds of flights in 22 countries. |
Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the dispute between the airline and unions needed to be ended. | Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the dispute between the airline and unions needed to be ended. |
Australia's industrial tribunal, Fair Work Australia, has resumed an emergency session in Melbourne, and has been hearing evidence from the airline, unions and government. | |
A government lawyer said the shut-down was costing the Australian economy "tens of millions" of dollars every hour. | |
The tribunal can order an end or suspension to the industrial action, though it is not clear how quickly flights would resume. | |
Qantas said a decision would be made on Monday morning about afternoon flights, according to its Twitter feed. | Qantas said a decision would be made on Monday morning about afternoon flights, according to its Twitter feed. |
The airline announced its decision to ground all flights on Saturday, saying it was a necessary reaction to a series of costly strikes and other industrial action, which the company said were costing A$15m ($16m) a week. | |
'Extortion' | 'Extortion' |
On Sunday, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard urged an end to the row. | On Sunday, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard urged an end to the row. |
"I believe Australians want to see this dispute settled. I want to see this dispute settled and we have taken the appropriate action to bring this before the industrial umpire," she told a news conference from the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (Chogm) being held in the western Australian city of Perth. | "I believe Australians want to see this dispute settled. I want to see this dispute settled and we have taken the appropriate action to bring this before the industrial umpire," she told a news conference from the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (Chogm) being held in the western Australian city of Perth. |
Correspondents say the situation is embarrassing for Mrs Gillard, as some of the leaders had been due to fly on Qantas planes. | Correspondents say the situation is embarrassing for Mrs Gillard, as some of the leaders had been due to fly on Qantas planes. |
Fair Work Australia can decide whether to order an end to industrial action by both unions and management. | Fair Work Australia can decide whether to order an end to industrial action by both unions and management. |
"Hour by hour that goes by, there are potentially tens of millions of dollars of harm (being) done to the economy," AFP quoted Tom Howe, a government lawyer, as saying during the session. | "Hour by hour that goes by, there are potentially tens of millions of dollars of harm (being) done to the economy," AFP quoted Tom Howe, a government lawyer, as saying during the session. |
Geoffrey Giudice, the tribunal president, said the situation should be settled urgently. | Geoffrey Giudice, the tribunal president, said the situation should be settled urgently. |
"We do need to bring this to a conclusion very soon and if it means we have to do it by extortion I will do it," Mr Giudice said. | "We do need to bring this to a conclusion very soon and if it means we have to do it by extortion I will do it," Mr Giudice said. |
Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce has made it clear flights will not resume unless the panel orders a termination of all industrial action. | Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce has made it clear flights will not resume unless the panel orders a termination of all industrial action. |
He says an order to simply suspend it - as the unions are seeking - would not be good enough. | He says an order to simply suspend it - as the unions are seeking - would not be good enough. |
'Devastating' | 'Devastating' |
A Qantas statement on Saturday said all employees involved in industrial action would be locked out from Monday evening and flights grounded from 0600 GMT on Saturday. | A Qantas statement on Saturday said all employees involved in industrial action would be locked out from Monday evening and flights grounded from 0600 GMT on Saturday. |
The announcement came after months of wrangling between the airline's management and unions. | The announcement came after months of wrangling between the airline's management and unions. |
Relations started deteriorating in August after the airline announced plans for restructuring and moving some operations to Asia. | Relations started deteriorating in August after the airline announced plans for restructuring and moving some operations to Asia. |
Qantas has a 65% share of the domestic Australian market, but has been making heavy losses on its international flights. | Qantas has a 65% share of the domestic Australian market, but has been making heavy losses on its international flights. |
The restructuring is expected to mean the loss of 1,000 jobs from its 35,000-strong workforce. | The restructuring is expected to mean the loss of 1,000 jobs from its 35,000-strong workforce. |
Pilots have been engaged in protracted talks with management over wages, conditions and outsourcing of jobs to Asia, but they have yet to walk off the job - unlike baggage handlers, engineers and ground staff. | Pilots have been engaged in protracted talks with management over wages, conditions and outsourcing of jobs to Asia, but they have yet to walk off the job - unlike baggage handlers, engineers and ground staff. |
Australian International Pilots Association (AIPA) vice-president Captain Richard Woodward said work stoppages were not in their plans. | Australian International Pilots Association (AIPA) vice-president Captain Richard Woodward said work stoppages were not in their plans. |
"Pilots have made it clear from the start that we would not take industrial action that disrupts passengers. We have stuck to that to this day," he said. | "Pilots have made it clear from the start that we would not take industrial action that disrupts passengers. We have stuck to that to this day," he said. |
"Alan Joyce, on the other hand, has opted to disrupt passengers in the most devastating way possible. | "Alan Joyce, on the other hand, has opted to disrupt passengers in the most devastating way possible. |
Are you affected by the issues in the story? Are you a passenger or a worker? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you affected by the issues in the story? Are you a passenger or a worker? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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