Qantas, Union Leaders Told: Strike a Deal or Face FWA Arbitration
Weeks into a lingering stalemate that practically paralysed Qantas Airways' operation, no deal is yet in sight as both company management and union leaders appear steadfast on pushing for their respective stance.
On Sunday, Transport Workers' Union (TWU) chief Tony Sheldon called on Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce to opt for some form of leeway and extend industrial discussions for another 21 days.
Failure to come up with a deal on the industrial action, Sheldon said, would inevitably impact the holiday travel plans of many Australians following Qantas' decision in late October to stop flying until after the labour problem has been resolved.
Previously, Fair Work Australia (FWA) urged the two parties to fix the glitch and gave them 21 days to iron out any misunderstanding but that timeframe has expired Monday midnight without any clear word from Qantas if it is agreeable to the new 21-day negotiation sued for by TWU.
A Qantas spokesman, however, has indicated the company's willingness to secured a deal with its striking employees as he revealed that Joyce has scheduled meetings with union leaders on Monday morning prior to deciding for an extension of negotiations.
Qantas said that a decision on the matter will be issued by afternoon, the lack of which experts said, would prompt the roll out of possible arbitration or lawsuits as warned by Sheldon.
Drastic actions on the part of the unions, Sheldon stressed, is justified by Qantas' apparent lack of sincerity to finally settle the labour dispute.
He accused the airline of greed by attempting to lure agreement from employees with the same unacceptable terms it pushed from five months ago.
"Negotiate in good faith because you have not shown it in the past 21 days ... and stand up for Australia ... don't stand up for your own greed," the TWU chief was reported by the Australian Associated Press (AAP) as saying on Sunday.
On its part, the federal government is optimistic that deal will be struck by both Qantas and union leaders if only they would act as adults lest they would want FWA to step in and possibly impose bitter solutions on the matter.
According to Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese, "they need to act like adults and get this done."
"Their destiny is within their own control ... and I'd call upon them to negotiate in good faith," Albanese was quoted by media reports during an interview on Sunday.
