Qantas passengers warned to brace for cancellations and delays as 50 Sydney Airport workers go on strike

Qantas passengers are being warned of cancellations and delays as more than 50 refuellers in the airline’s supply chain at Sydney Airport plan to go on strike.

The six-hour strike action is planned for July 31, and comes after petrol company Ampol rejected an offer to provide fairer pay, better hours and more full-time positions.

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) will carry out the strike after 14 meetings with Ampol in the past six months failed to reach a fair agreement.

Those meetings also included crisis talks following the unanimous vote by workers to take action.

The work stoppages will include:

• Night shift – one hour stoppage from 2am to 3am
• Day shift – two one-hour stoppages back-to-back from 8.30am to 10.30am
• Afternoon shift – one two-hour stoppage from 6pm to 8pm

Cancellation and delays could be widespread, as Ampol services 16 domestic and international airlines including Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar, Air New Zealand, Delta and British Airways.

TWU NSW/QLD State Secretary Richard Olsen said there no other choice but to take industrial action after Ampol failed to offer workers a fair deal.

‘If flights are delayed or cancelled because of industrial action, the blame lies solely with Ampol’s management for failing their workers,’ Mr Olsen said.

‘These workers are dedicated but can’t accept further declines in wages and conditions. With booming aviation demand, jobs are being undervalued due to airlines’ obsession with profits.

‘Workers need better part-time hours and more full-time roles for job security.

‘Airport workers nationwide are overburdened and exhausted, struggling with minimal wages and unstable hours.

‘The relentless drive for profits driven by privatised airports and the likes of Qantas has plunged the aviation industry into crisis.

‘We urgently need a Safe and Secure Skies Commission to set fair standards and ensure skilled workers are in every role, from the baggage room to the cockpit.’TWU claimed Ampol refuellers have only received a 3.5 per cent pay increase over the last three years.

The company also only provides 24 full-time positions out of 68 employees.