Qantas Workers Begin 24-Hour Strike at Four Australian Airports

Post by : Saif

Qantas ground workers began a 24-hour strike on Thursday at four major Australian airports, demanding higher wages, more secure employment and improved workplace safety.

Workers took industrial action at Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth airports, according to the Transport Workers' Union (TWU). The strike involves employees from Qantas Ground Services, Australian air Express freight operations and regional carrier QantasLink.

Workers Demand Higher Pay and Safer Jobs

Employees are seeking pay increases that match industry standards, along with more full-time positions.

The union is also calling for workers across different Qantas subsidiaries to be brought under a single structure. It argues that the airline's use of multiple companies has divided the workforce and created concerns about safety standards.

TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said industrial action was being used as a last resort and raised concerns about serious workplace injuries among employees involved in airport operations.

The union has also criticised what it describes as years of cost-cutting and called for major changes to Qantas' labour structure.

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Safety Screeners Join Action in Sydney

Workers involved in airport security screening are also taking part in industrial action in Sydney.

The TWU said up to 400 safety screeners would hold two separate two-hour stoppages. Another three-hour stoppage was planned for September 28.

The additional action could affect airport operations and passenger processing at Sydney Airport, depending on how services are managed during the stoppages.

Qantas Ground Operations Under Pressure

The dispute comes after years of disagreement over how Qantas manages its ground operations.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Qantas outsourced the jobs of more than 1,800 ground workers who supported its wider Australian network. A court later ruled that the outsourcing was illegal.

The airline was ordered last year to pay A$90 million, or about $64 million, in what was described as a record penalty linked to the case.

The dispute over employment arrangements remains an important issue for the union as workers push for changes to pay, job security and workplace conditions.

Qantas Yet to Respond

Qantas had not immediately responded to a request for comment on the latest strike action.

The industrial dispute involves several groups of workers who play an important role in airport operations, including ground handling and freight services.

The length and scope of the stoppages could determine how much pressure the action places on airport operations. Passengers travelling through the affected airports may face changes to ground services during the strike period.

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