Second QantasLink pilot strike in two weeks over pay dispute called off

Pilots for a Qantas affiliate airline servicing regional WA, including Geraldton, have cancelled a strike which would’ve been their second industrial movement in four weeks. After walking off the job earlier this month, leaving 500 passengers stranded, pilots for Network Aviation planned a repeat strike, on Tuesday, October 24. The strike would have lasted 24 hours, but on Friday afternoon QantasLink spokesperson said they had welcomed the decision to call off the strike. “We remain committed to reaching a deal that benefits our pilots and the needs of our business,” the spokesperson said. When the action was announced on Thursday, Network Aviation CEO Trevor Worgan said it was “a completely unreasonable escalation from the union which continues to make ‘take it or leave it’ demands for pay increases of at least 50 per cent.” Senior industrial officer for the Australian Federations of Air Pilots Chris Aikens said: “If the company’s management is serious, it will spend next week focusing on listening and responding to its pilots to allow a resolution to be reached.” Pilots requesting the 50 per cent increase were asked to meet at a 25 per cent increase as part of negotiations. Mr Worgan said the the 25 per cent raise would mean “Network Aviation pilots would be paid well above pilots at our direct competitor”.