Qantas international cabin crew reject proposed new pay deal

The Qantas international cabin crew have rejected a new enterprise bargaining agreement that would have imposed a two-year wage freeze and worse, rostering conditions for staff. An overwhelming 97.5% of employees voted “no” against the new deal, which is argued to have been an attempt to take advantage of the post-COVID labour environment, and result in worse outcomes for staff long-term. Over 2,561 employees were eligible to vote in the ballot, with 91.2% taking part. The Flight Attendants Association of Australia (FAAA), which is negotiating the new EBA terms, said the deal proposed by Qantas was concerning, given how much worse-off it would leave international cabin crew. Some of the proposed changes, along with a two-year wage freeze, included an increase in standby shifts, and an end to the payment of meal allowances in cash in foreign countries. Instead, Qantas pushed to pay allowances directly to employees, via bank transfer and alongside other allowances, in arrears.<br/>