Qantas and unions miss deadline; now subject to binding arbitration

Qantas and its unions – the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association and the Transport Workers Union – have failed to reach an agreement to end all industrial action. The two sides will now be subject to binding arbitration from Fair Work Australia. The arbitration process could take up to six months and in that time industrial action is prohibitive, allowing Qantas to regain some of its lost business. The final settlement can be binding for up to four years.