Australian pilots union rejects Qantas Airways' wage proposal

The Australian pilots union said on Tuesday that it has rejected a wage proposal from Qantas Airways for its short haul pilots, days after the company's engineers went on a strike to demand a better pay deal. The proposal included a two-year wage freeze, higher minimum guaranteed hours, increased standby pay and guaranteed payments for flying hours that may be lost due to unplanned disruptions or schedule changes during a roster period. "Qantas' insistence on a two-year wage freeze despite being highly profitable while also seeking concessions on key conditions was viewed by pilots as unreasonable," the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) said in a statement. The national carrier posted an annual profit after tax of A$1.25b ($865.8m) for fiscal 2024. Of the 786 short-haul Qantas pilots who voted, 63.4% voted against the deal. The rejection of this proposal comes in the wake of a strike by the airline's engineers last Thursday over demands including a 5% annual pay hike. The pilots' union warned of escalation if the airline ignored the result of the vote.<br/>