Pilots’ Strike Ends On Mon. Without Settlement

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30366, 15 February 1964, Page 14

Pilots’ Strike Ends On Mon. Without Settlement

(N.ZJ’.A.-Reuter — Copyright) SYDNEY, February 14. Pilots of Australia’s overseas airline, Qantas, will stay on strike until midnight on Sunday, the manager of the Federation of Air Pilots, Mr B. I. Crofts, said tonight.

About 320 pilots went on strike at midnight last night in support of a claim for -more rest periods for pilots of jet aircraft. Mr Crofts said that the strike might be extended beyond midnight on Sunday if the airline takes action against individual pilots. The strike could be settled earlier if the airline made a significant move towards a settlement, Mr Crofts said. The federation manager made his statement to Reuter after a meeting with • the Commonwealth Arbitration Commissioner, Mr J. H. Portus, during which the airlines applied successfully to have a “no strike” clause inserted in the pilots’ employment agreement. Mr Crofts said that Qantas had become obsessed with the legalities of the issue, and during the last 2J days had

not been prepared to discuss the causes of the strike or attempt to resolve them. He said that if the pilots resumed work on Sunday night without a settlement of their claims, a further stoppage was planned for any time between February 18 and 28—the second and tenth day after resumption of work. “Qantas pilots will not forgo a principle which they consider important to correct and proper performance of their duties by any legal direction, although many Qantas pilots will be unaware at this stage of the decision Mr Portus made in the absence of the pilots or their representatives this afternoon,’’ he said. Officials of the federation walked out of today’s proceedings after seeking leave from Mr Portus to withdraw. They said they were not empowered to represent pilots at proceedings relating to an anti-strike clause.

Mr Portus said he could not instruct them to appear. After inserting the prohibition clause —which will operate for three months— Mr Portus repeated his offer first made yesterday to mediate in the pilots’ dispute The “no-strike” clause will enable Qantas to apply to the Commonwealth Industrial Court for an order against all or some of the pilots. Such an order would require the pilots to work in accordance with their agreement. Pilots who disobeyed the order by continuing to strike would be liable to penalties for contempt of court.