Sydney Airport bracing for travel chaos as nearly 1,000 workers prepare to walk off the job
Travellers have been warned to expect delays at Sydney Airport on Thursday as nearly 1,000 workers are set to walk off the job during separate strikes.
Up to 400 security workers and around 500 Qantas Ground Services staff are expected to go on strike throughout the day.
Security workers from Certis are due to stage a two-hour stoppage from 7.30am, with a second strike planned for 6pm, after 99 per cent of staff voted in favour of industrial action.
The workers, which include those in passenger security screening, will also down tools for three hours on Monday.
Qantas and Australian airExpress workers are expected to walk off the job from Thursday morning and remain on strike until Friday.
The industrial action is also expected to affect operations at airports across the country, including Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU), which represents the workers involved, is seeking improved pay, more secure full-time employment, pathways to full-time employment and changes to the way aviation work is divided between different companies.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said Qantas’ management needs a ‘fundamental reset’, and accused the national carrier of splintering its workforce.
Travellers have been warned to expect delays at Sydney Airport on Thursday as nearly 1,000 workers are set to walk off the job
Up to 400 security workers and around 500 Qantas Ground staff are expected to go on strike
‘Workers today are standing up for what Australian aviation should be: an industry of good careers that functions properly for the public, not a vehicle for executive bonuses,’ Mr Kaine said.
‘Qantas management is still reading from the Alan Joyce playbook that gutted one of the most iconic Australian companies in history… we need to see this company return to seeing its staff as an investment, not a cost to be ruthlessly driven down.
‘Strike action is always a last resort, but we are literally seeing workers maimed and killed keeping these critical services going. Disruption today is a direct result of Qantas management’s appalling disregard for a reliable long-term aviation sector in favour of billions in short-term profits.’
Mr Kaine’s comments come a year after a Qantas freight worker died at Sydney Airport after he was hit by a towing vehicle.
A Qantas spokeswoman said Thursday’s industrial action was not expected to affect domestic and international passenger services.
‘We have contingency plans to minimise any impact on our operations and we are not expecting this action to cause disruptions to QantasLink customers,’ the spokeswoman said.
A Sydney Airport spokesperson told the Daily Mail contingency measures have been put in place to minimise any disruption.
‘Passengers travelling today should allow extra time and stay alert for messages from their airline,’ the spokesperson added.
More to come.
