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Qantas ground workers plan strike action over pay disputes

Hundreds of ground staff at Australia's largest airline will walk off the job next week, escalating an industrial dispute over wages and working conditions. The strike will affect freight operations and regional flight services.

LSN Singapore · 18 September 2026

Qantas ground workers plan strike action over pay disputes

Ground workers employed by Qantas Airways are set to commence strike action next week in a bid to secure improved pay and conditions, union representatives confirmed. The industrial action will involve hundreds of staff who handle cargo operations and support regional flight services across the airline's network.

The planned stoppage marks an intensification of ongoing negotiations between the airline and its workforce over remuneration and workplace arrangements. Union officials have indicated that current offers from management fall short of member expectations, prompting the decision to take industrial action.

Qantas has not yet issued a public response to the strike notice. The airline's freight operations and regional services, which connect smaller cities and regional centres, are expected to face significant disruptions during the strike period.

The dispute reflects broader tensions within Australia's aviation sector, where workers have sought wage increases in line with rising living costs. Ground handling staff play a critical role in airline operations, managing baggage, cargo, and aircraft turnaround procedures at airports.