QANTAS pilots are mounting a massive inflight campaign justifying strike action - and launching a shareholder revolt - amid revelations some are being paid more than $500,000 a year.
Figures obtained by The Daily Telegraph revealed even the lowest paid second officers are on almost $100,000 a year while senior captains are paid up to $536,000.
Last year some pilots received average pay rises of up to 17 per cent, or $45,000.
But pilots are pushing for further rises and job security guarantees. Their campaign includes scripting announcements for passengers on strike-affected planes and orchestrating a shareholder revolution at Qantas's annual general meeting in two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Transport Workers Union yesterday confirmed Qantas ground crews would participate in work stoppages at all major airports today, including Sydney, from 6-8am and 4-6pm.
Customs officers announced late yesterday they were striking at all major airports, with stoppages from 7-8am, 9-10am and 7-9pm in Sydney, further disrupting international travellers.
The pilots have established a website called qantas shareholders.com to direct disgruntled shareholders - including many pilots themselves - to vote against management plans for a new offshore operation.
At the same time they will deliver stronger and longer inflight announcements to passengers, including a special broadcast for those on delayed flights. It is the most serious action yet from pilots, who have so far resisted total work bans or strikes.
The Australian International Pilots Association said it had been "inundated" with calls from Qantas shareholders and the website would help them "vote against key motions in an effort to make management listen".
Leaked figures reveal even a second officer on an A330 gets almost $150,000 on average and starts on more than $110,000 following an average 17 per cent pay increase in the past year.
The highest paid captain of an A380 gets $536,000 - an increase of more than $40,000 on last year - and the average A380 captain's wage is $415,000.
AIPA president Captain Barry Jackson said Qantas pilots' pay was around the middle of international rates and far less than CEO Alan Joyce's $5 million pay packet.
"It takes decades of training and experience to become an A380 Captain, which is more than I can say about what's required to become a CEO," he said.
sHe also defended the announcements as "brief and positive".
"The aim is put pressure on management in a way that does not disrupt the travel plans of Qantas passengers," he said.
