Qantas engineers call off industrial action after Tiger grounded

Qantas engineers have called off planned industrial action following the grounding of Tiger Airways Australia (AAP, 02-Jul-2011). The Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) had planned rolling stoppages this week across Australian airports as part of a dispute over pay and conditions. "I understand the grounding of Tiger Airways by CASA is an Australian first and puts Australia's domestic airlines in a position no one expected, and that is why we believe cancelling the action is the right thing to do," ALAEA Federal Secretary Steve Purvinas said in a statement. He added the union supports CASA's decision to suspend Tiger's operations. "Licensed engineers had had concerns about Tiger for a long time with regard to a lack of maintenance personnel and issues to do with the reporting of problems," Mr Purvinas said.