Qantas domestic cabin crew agree deal to avert strikes

Qantas’ domestic cabin crew have agreed a new deal of working terms in a move that will avoid threatened strike action. More than 1,500 FAAA members voted in favour of the agreement that will only increase work hours from 9.45 to 10 hours – rather than the 12 hours sought by the Flying Kangaroo. Rest periods will also be maintained. The union in November voted almost unanimously in favour of industrial action over the Christmas holiday period, but no stoppages eventually took place. “This just goes to show what can happen when the company sits down with a real offer and works to get an outcome that people can agree to,” FAAA national secretary Teri O’Toole told The Australian. The deal follows a series of disputes with third-party staff ending in settlements in recent months. Last year, Dnata catering staff and Menzies ground handlers called off a vote on industrial action after securing pay raises and job security protections in September. Dnata ground handlers also called off a planned 24-hour strike after securing an immediate 12.6% pay rise. Finally, Airport firefighters cancelled strike action planned for the Christmas holiday period after agreeing to a 4.9% pay rise.<br/>