- Airport workers will strike on Friday over proposed changes to work agreements
- The strike is over split shifts forcing employees to stay at work for over 15 hours
- Federal Court will hear a case brought by the airport services company Aerocare
Aviation workers are set to strike over proposed changes to pay and working conditions which they say risk safety and security.
The industrial action is not expected to delay flights or hold up passengers during Friday’s strikes at airports around Australia.
Airport staff, including baggage handlers, caterers, cleaners and check-in staff will protest against changes to workers’ employment agreements.
Aviation workers are set to strike over proposed changes to pay and working conditions which they say risk safety and security (pictured is a rally at Adelaide Airport)
Airport employees on split shifts can be forced to stay at work for 15 hours or more and be paid for as little as six hours, the Transport Workers Union said.
The Federal Court will on Friday hear a case brought by airport services company Aerocare.
The industrial action is not expected to delay flights or hold up passengers during Friday’s strikes at airports around Australia (pictured is a rally at Adelaide Airport)
The case could result in a reinterpretation of clauses in the Airline Operations Ground Staff Award relating to split shifts and continuous hours of work.
‘The case will have implications for all aviation employees and workers in other industries, including nurses, aged care workers, electricians and shop workers,’ the TWU said in a statement.
The legal action, launched by Aerocare, follows claims in 2017 that some staff at Sydney Airport were forced to sleep in makeshift ‘camps’ in baggage handling areas in between shifts.
Aerocare later said an investigation by the company, the Australian Border Force and officials from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth airports found the claims were without foundation.
The company provides passenger and airport on-the-ground services, including baggage handling and aircraft cleaning.
Airport staff, including baggage handlers, caterers, cleaners and check-in staff will protest against changes to workers’ employment agreements (pictured is a rally at Adelaide Airport)