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Qantas pilot relieved of duties over plans to take part in industrial action

The pilot, Capt Steven Anderson, was due to operate flight QFA0030 from Hong Kong to Melbourne today, but was told late yesterday his services were not required for the flight.

Another Qantas captain was flown to Hong Kong to relieve Capt Anderson, who must now make his own way back to Melbourne and will not be paid.

Capt Anderson and the Australian International Pilots Association had told Qantas he did not intend to extend his tour of duty on the flight, a Boeing 747 carrying 350 passengers.

This meant if the flight were delayed or diverted by weather, medical emergencies, mechanical issues or air traffic control instructions he would not continue flying.

Qantas spokesman Luke Enright said if the airline allowed this to happen "passengers could be stranded overnight in Hong Kong or between Hong Kong and Melbourne.

"Qantas is not prepared to risk passengers being delayed getting to Melbourne because the captain wants to take industrial action.''

The airline is not required to pay employees who engage in partial work bans, according to the Fair Work Act. Capt Anderson will not be paid while he engages in the ban, but will resume duties on full pay once he notifies the airline the ban is over.

Capt Anderson also indicated he was refusing to wear his tie and cap, but Qantas says this is not the reason he was relieved of his duties.

The pilots' union is in the middle of a 30-day period of industrial action in an effort, it says, to prevent Qantas shifting jobs offshore.

Pilots' association president Barry Jackson said: "Qantas pilots are committed to looking after passengers and have therefore chosen non-disruptive measures, yet management appears hell-bent on making sure passengers are affected.

"This move is deliberately inflammatory and wholly unnecessary. It has the sole aim of provoking Qantas pilots to anger.

"AIPA believes this move to be totally unjustified - and we will be exploring all our options under the Fair Work Act - but we will not be disrupted from our level-headed and rational campaign.''

"The pilots union is trying to force all Qantas subsidiaries including Jetstar, to pay the same premium pay and conditions as Qantas. The union is also demanding pay increases and free flights on top of already heavily discounted airfares,'' Mr Enright said.

"If Qantas was to give the unions what they want it would drive up airfares, cost jobs and make Qantas airlines and routes unprofitable.

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