Qantas tickets have become more expensive because of the ongoing labor problem with unions. Travelers from Melbourne to Sydney now have to pay $150 more for a one-way ticket, News.com.au reports.

The law of supply and demand appears to be the reason why the tickets cost more. Cheaper seats were sold out after Qantas canceled about 500 flights in October, thus leaving pricier tickets the only options left for travelers. A ticket for that route purchased on Thursday was $241, but a ticket bought Thursday for a Monday trip was priced at $395, the Herald Sun reports.

Partial relief, however, is in store for Qantas after the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) announced Thursday that members of the union would not pursue any form of industrial action for the next three weeks.

Besides canceling strikes, ALAEA Federal Secretary Steve Purvinas also lifted the ban on overtime and promised that engineers would work hard to erase the maintenance backlog caused by their work stoppage. He also dared Qantas to bring back to the air the seven jets grounded by the company.

But Qantas's problems with the Transport Workers Union (TWU) remain after the union rejected an agreement and said that baggage handlers, ground crew, plane cleaners and caterers would stop working for a few hours next week.

In the Australian Capital Territory, the strike will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Sydney TWU members will stop working at 7 a.m., those in Melbourne at 8 a.m. and those in Brisbane at 7 a.m.

TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon said union members need to strike because negotiations for better pay and work conditions have reached a deadlock.

"There are clearly two sets of rules at Qantas. If you're in senior management, the sky is the limit; if you safely prepare an aircraft for take-off, you are offered nothing," The Canberra Times quoted Mr Sheldon.

"Sadly, it seems the only room for expenditure growth is in executive salaries," he added.

Despite the temporary ceasefire from ALAEA, Mr Purvinas is still pursuing better wages for members of the union.

"What we've effectively done today is given Qantas three weeks to pull their heads in, to start telling the truth about the groundings of these aircraft and hopefully an opportunity to bargain an outcome to this dispute," The Canberra Times quoted Mr Purvinas.

Workplace Relations Minister Chris Evans was happy with ALAEA's decision, but warned government could still intervene if there is no improvement in industrial relations between Qantas and the unions.

"This is more than about pay and conditions. It is about that fundamental issue of the future of their jobs, given Qantas's business decisions," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Mr Evans.

RELATED STORIES