What happened
Qantas's 1,700 long-haul pilots have begun voting on a potential strike action, 15 years after the last long-haul walkout. The Fair Work Commission approved the ballot, which runs from July 27, 2026. Key union demands include improved work-life balance with three "golden" leave days every two months, more notice for next-day call-outs, and a higher annual pay rise than the 3% offered by Qantas. Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace expressed disappointment, citing affordability constraints despite previous offers