Stranded Qantas passengers pin hopes on workplace mediator

Prime minister takes action as 68,000 travelers are affected

SYDNEY - Tens of thousands of stranded passengers were on Sunday desperately hoping Australia's workplace regulator would end the grounding of Qantas Airways' entire fleet over a bitter industrial row.

The national carrier announced its shock decision to lock out union staff and cancel all flights indefinitely on Saturday, a move that left the country reeling and passengers scrambling for alternatives.