Australia’s Qantas Airways Returning to Normal After Labor Dispute

Posted November 1st, 2011 at 3:50 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Australia's national airline says its operations are rapidly returning to normal after a government labor board ordered it to end a dispute with its unions.

Qantas Airways officials say they hope to have all scheduled flights operating by Tuesday afternoon, little more than a day after the board issued its order.

The brief shutdown stranded about 70,000 passengers in dozens of cities around the world, leaving many of them angry and frustrated.

The airline grounded its entire fleet Saturday in response to months of strikes by unions representing Qantas pilots, baggage handlers, ground workers and catering staff. The strikers are upset over Qantas' plans to layoff thousands of employees as part of its plan to expand into Asia.

A labor tribunal has ordered Qantas and the three unions to reach a deal within 21 days or face binding arbitration.