October 28, 2026 — Virgin Australia cabin crew will soon vote on whether to take industrial action, the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) said on October 27. No strike has been called and no dates have been set.
What happened
The TWU says crew are unhappy with fatiguing rosters and with pay it says has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said crew are “still operating under crisis conditions.” The union says Virgin has refused to commit to rostering changes.
What crew are asking for
- Fairer rostering
- Lower duty limits and longer minimum rest periods
- A clearer path up the pay classifications
The union also points to the airline’s finances, saying owner Bain Capital has taken A$2.7 billion out of Virgin since buying it in 2020 for A$730 million, and that Virgin posted a A$501 million profit last financial year. Those are the union’s figures. Virgin had not published a response at the time of reporting.
Separately, the TWU and the Australian Services Union have applied for a protected action ballot covering Virgin’s guest services staff. The TWU has not said whether it has lodged a ballot application for cabin crew yet.
How the process works
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Union applies to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) for a protected action ballot; the FWC aims to deal with it within two working days |
| Step 2 | Compulsory conciliation conference during the ballot period |
| Step 3 | Action is approved only if at least half of eligible employees vote and more than half of votes are yes |
| Step 4 | At least three working days’ written notice to Virgin before any action (up to seven in exceptional cases) |
| Ballot date | TBA |
| Strike dates | None set |
For context, in December 2023 Virgin cabin crew voted 99% in favour of 24-hour stoppages, and an in-principle deal followed about ten days later.
What it means for travelers
- No disruption yet. Nothing changes for Virgin Australia flights today, and any action must be preceded by a ballot and at least three working days’ notice — so there will be warning.
- Watch the calendar: If a ballot goes ahead and passes, action could land close to the busy Australian summer holidays. If you are planning December travel on Virgin, keep backup options on other carriers in mind.
- Two Australian disputes at once: Qantas ground workers are also striking (see our Qantas story), so keep an eye on both airlines’ updates before flying domestically in Australia.
Sources
- Aerocorner: Virgin Australia Cabin Crew Move Toward a Strike Vote as Qantas Ground Workers Walk Out Wednesday
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