The government has asked the tribunal for termination or suspension of the industrial disputes between Qantas and three of its unions. The unions also want the tribunal to rule for a suspension of the lockout so that the strikes can be resumed if negotiations fail.

Qantas carries about 70,000 passengers per day and many of them are now stranded at airports around the world.
 
The iconic Australian airline locked out 35,000 employees and shutdown operations on Saturday morning. The decision to ground the domestic and international fleet took thousands of travellers by surprise, including many who were close to boarding Qantas aircraft or already on planes that were about to take off. 

"I think it was unnecessary and extreme," Richard Woodward, vice president of the Australian and International Pilots Association, told CBC News. "It was an extraordinary action that has probably damaged the airline significantly." 

Qantas said 108 airplanes were being grounded at 22 airports, but did not say how many flights were involved.
Among the stranded passengers are 17 world leaders attending a Commonwealth summit, which has ended in the western Australian city of Perth, and the Australian government has been helping to get them home.

Prime Minster Julia Gillard says the dispute must end because of the damage its doing to the country's economy.
 
The main issues in the labour dispute are wages and concerns the airline may outsource work to cheaper bases in Asia.

Source: CBCnews