Qantas unions found an ally in transport workers overseas when the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) warned the Australian flag carrier that it would get involved if there are future industrial rows between Qantas and its unions.

"Workers at other airlines and right across the industry, including ground support staff and air traffic controllers, are watching this dispute very closely because it could set a precedent for cutting costs and cutting standards at many other airlines," The Australian quoted ITF General Secretary David Cockroft.

ITF counts 779 union affiliates, including 275 aviation unions. The federation represents 4.67 million transport workers in 155 nations.

He said workers at different global gateways would do whatever they could within the law to support the Qantas employees. On Thursday morning, ITF will rally outside the Australian High Commission in London to air their sentiments about Qantas management.

Mr Cockroft disclosed that a union official wearing a mask with the face of Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce will wield a fake knife at a union member in a kangaroo costume to represent Mr Joyce's stabbing in the back the Qantas icon and Australian spirit.

He said that Britain's Unite union is monitoring the situation in Qantas since the head of British Airway's (BA) parent firm is similarly seeking ways to downgrade and outsource services. Like Qantas, BA was hit by a series of strikes spearheaded by cabin crew earlier this year over pay and work conditions.

"If Qantas gets away with setting up low-cost, low-quality, offshore airlines of inconvenience then lots of other airlines would quickly do the same thing.

"So far nobody has managed to replace a well-established full-service airline with a cheap, low-rent alternative and we will not let Alan Joyce set that precedent because if this kind of offshoring and downsizing spreads it could be the end of genuine national airlines and the beginning of airlines of inconvenience low-cost, union-cleansed, relocated and flagged out," Mr Cockroft argued.

Qantas's 21-day bargaining period put in place by Fair Work Australia (FWA) will end by Monday, but the Transport Workers Union (TWU) said the air carrier apparently has no interest in inking an agreement with the unions.

TWU National President Jim McGiveron said there is no progress in the negotiations, which would pave the way for FWA to step in and come out with a binding decision.

However, Mr Joyce said he is optimistic a deal would be reached with unions before the 21-day deadline lapses.

RELATED STORIES