Qantas Enters Binding Arbitration with Employees
Qantas enters arbitration with employees
Qantas has decided to defer delivery of the last eight of an order for 20 Airbus A380s. (Photo: Qantas)
Qantas has decided to defer delivery of the last eight of an order for 20 Airbus A380s. (Photo: Qantas)

Three weeks of fruitless negotiations between Qantas and three of its employee unions have forced the government's workplace labor tribunal to arbitrate new labor agreements. The Australian flag carrier has warned that the dispute could result in a dip in its profits for the last six months of 2011 of up to 66 percent.

A series of rolling strikes by the airline’s pilots, mechanics and baggage handlers into autumn prompted Qantas to shut down operations for two days in late October. The action prompted the intervention of labor arbitrator Fair Work Australia, whose orders called for 21 days of negotiations between the parties, during which no further industrial action could take place.