Ground personnel utilized by major airlines like Qantas, Emirates, and Etihad, are set to go on strike over a new deal that will result in pay reductions for experienced workers, bringing them below legal award criteria.
The strike action will have an impact on the travel plans of overseas passengers on other airlines as well as Qantas travellers in Adelaide.
On September 12, hundreds of Dnata ground handlers will go on a 24-hour strike, and Menzies Aviation in Victoria and NSW will request permission from the Fair Work Commission to run a protected action vote.
The strikes will have an impact on Qantas’s domestic and international operations primarily.
A total of 350 employees at Adelaide, Sydney, and Brisbane airports will cease working as a result of the strike action, the Transport Workers’ Union said on Sunday. 96% of the personnel surveyed had approved of it.
It follows Qantas’ decision last year to contract out 2000 internal ground handling positions to outside firms like Dnata and Swissport.
Both firms’ employees are fighting for stable jobs and more financial security, as well as for fair wage increases in their collective bargaining agreements and more guaranteed hours for part-timers.
At a time when cost of living pressure was at an all-time high, TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said it was upsetting for ground handling employees to have their pay and conditions jeopardized.
Ground handling is a highly skilled job but thousands of experienced workers have been forced out of the industry by Qantas,” he said. Qantas last week reported an $860m full-year loss.