Qantas strike set to cause chaos in Australia

Travelers in Australia face delays tomorrow amid a strike by baggage handlers. Photo / file

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) is refusing to call off a planned nationwide strike in Australia that is set to cause major disruption for air passengers across the nation.

More than 4000 Qantas baggage handlers and ground staff will stop work for four hours tomorrow as part of an ongoing row with Qantas over pay and conditions.

The strike comes after last-minute talks between the union and Qantas at Fair Work Australia failed to reach a resolution today.

"We're expecting that members throughout the country will be taking industrial action tomorrow, up to four hours," Transport Workers Union (TWU) national secretary Tony Sheldon told reporters in Sydney.

"This is a position that they've been forced into by Qantas' lack of good faith and negotiations.

He said the airline had stonewalled its own workforce for nine months and was determined to "outsource their own workforce at very low rates of pay."

Referring to the Fair Work talks, Mr Sheldon added: "We've had meetings today, and Qantas has not made any improved offer to its Australian workforce."

Qantas has said it expects more than 6000 passengers to be affected by the strikes.

It has cancelled 28 flights and delayed another 27 by up to 35 minutes.

The airline's office workers have been drafted to perform some of the jobs affected by the strike.

That could lead to some bags being lost, Mr Sheldon said.