No-Strike Ban Forces Pilots Back To Work

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30367, 17 February 1964, Page 11

No-Strike Ban Forces Pilots Back To Work

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY, February 16. The world-wide strike by 328 Qantas airline pilots will end at midnight today. There is a possibility that more strikes, including a complete domestic stoppage, will be held without notice. The decision by the pilots to return to work after ceasing work at midnight on Thursday follows the insertion of a “bans and limitations” clause in the QantasPilots Agreement by the

arbitration commissioner, Mr J. Portlus, on Friday. A Qantas spokesman said the clause enables the company to prosecute individual pilots defying the strike ban clause. The manager of the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (Mr B. 1. Crofts) said that all airline pilots may strike if any attempt is made fey the airline to prosecute. The strike began over dispute involving time off for overseas jet crews. The strike ban clause means that eacn pilot can be fined a maximum of £5OO for every day he remains on strike illegally, for contempt of court. Although the pilots are members of the Australian Federation of Air Pilots, the body has not been registered for about three years. This means the Arbitration Court has to deal with the company and the pilots, and not the federation.