Jetstar passengers can expect their flights to be disrupted next Wednesday as the Transport Workers Union confirms it will be taking more industrial action including rolling two-hour work stoppages over 24 hours.
Jetstar’s CEO Gareth Evans has condemned the planned strike action, commenting that Transport Workers Union’s (TWU) decision to disrupt air travel at a time when local tourism and the economy is hurting was “unforgivable”.
“It’s another example of how out of touch this union is,” he said.
Jetstar said it has put a package to the TWU and its own staff that includes a 3% annual pay increase and a year’s worth of back pay for each employee as well as a range of other benefits related to rosters.
The Airbus A320
“The deal delivers annual wage increases well above private sector wage growth and more than what most companies are offering”.
Jetstar’s CEO Gareth Evans
“It also ensures we can keep offering the low fares our customers expect,” he went on to say.
Jetstar’s boss claims that the union keeps ignoring the fact that no part of Jetstar or the Qantas Group will do a wage deal more than 3%”.
“We will be doing everything possible to get our customers on their way with as little disruption as possible.”
Jetstar said it has been negotiating with the TWU for more than a year.
The TWU’s current list of claims equates to a 12% increase in costs, including a 6% wages and superannuation increase.
Customers booked to travel on Wednesday, February 19 who no longer wish to travel have the option of a full refund or can change the date of their travel.