FED:Qantas and engineers' union agree to truce

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2011
FED:Qantas and engineers' union agree to truce

SYDNEY, Dec 19 AAP - Qantas and one of three unions at the centre of a long-running
industrial dispute have agreed to a truce.

Almost two months after Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce grounded the entire fleet,
the airline and the engineers' union will on Monday afternoon present Fair Work Australia
with an agreement to end the stand-off.

The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association has agreed to a deal, following
the nationwide approval of union members, The Australian reports.

Fair Work Australia is expected to ratify the deal by the end of December or early
in the new year.

The deal is understood to see annual pay rises of three per cent and allow Qantas to
bring in new work practices, including a new licence category.

The union has also reneged on its demand for a hangar to be built to allow heavy maintenance
on Airbus A380 double-decker jumbos to be performed in Australia, instead of in Asia.

Previously, the union's federal secretary had threatened to "bake them slowly" when
it came to industrial action with Qantas, Fairfax said.

Meanwhile, separate disputes between the Transport Workers Union and the Australian
and International Pilots Association go to arbitration next year.

AAP saj/apm

KEYWORD: QANTAS

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