Melbourne:
Australia's national carrier Qantas said on Sunday all domestic and international flights will remain grounded until at least midday on Monday, amid an unprecedented industrial dispute that has hit nearly 70,000 passengers worldwide.
A day after the extraordinary decision to ground the global Qantas fleet, the battle between the airline and the labour unions resumed before Fair Work Australia, the country's industrial tribunal, while the government came under increasing pressure to act unilaterally to end the dispute.
As the Fair Work hearing here dragged on into the late hours, Qantas, the world's 10th-largest airline, warned that its planes would have to remain grounded until at least midday on Monday, regardless of what the tribunal decided.
Nearly 70,000 people have been affected by the cancellation of hundreds of flights in 22 countries. Qantas flies thrice weekly between Mumbai and Brisbane via Singapore, according to the website of the airline.
The strike has already embarrassed Prime Minister Julia Gillard, as some of the leaders who attended the just-ended
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) were due to fly on Qantas planes.
Gillard said the dispute between Qantas and unions needed
to be ended.
"I believe Australians want to see this dispute settled. I want to see it settled and we have taken the appropriate action ... to bring the matter before the industrial umpire," she said in Perth.
A day after the extraordinary decision to ground the global Qantas fleet, the battle between the airline and the labour unions resumed before Fair Work Australia, the country's industrial tribunal, while the government came under increasing pressure to act unilaterally to end the dispute.
As the Fair Work hearing here dragged on into the late hours, Qantas, the world's 10th-largest airline, warned that its planes would have to remain grounded until at least midday on Monday, regardless of what the tribunal decided.
Nearly 70,000 people have been affected by the cancellation of hundreds of flights in 22 countries. Qantas flies thrice weekly between Mumbai and Brisbane via Singapore, according to the website of the airline.
The strike has already embarrassed Prime Minister Julia Gillard, as some of the leaders who attended the just-ended
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) were due to fly on Qantas planes.
Gillard said the dispute between Qantas and unions needed
to be ended.
"I believe Australians want to see this dispute settled. I want to see it settled and we have taken the appropriate action ... to bring the matter before the industrial umpire," she said in Perth.
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