WORKERS PROTEST AT CAIRNS AIRPORT FOR BETTER, SAFER JOBS
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Dnata ground workers who had notified for 24-hour strikes this Wednesday have now won an agreement that delivers better pay, rostering and work-life balance, as well as a commitment from the company that it will pursue a better aviation industry with the TWU.
Workers have stood strong to lock in rostering improvements including maximum 6 rostered consecutive shifts, minimum 48 hour rest periods and 7 days’ notice of rostering changes, as well as an 11% pay increase over two years.
The company has also agreed to further negotiations with the TWU on any future work at Western Sydney International Airport.
Workers have been fighting to rebuild decent jobs in ground handling after a decade of cost-cutting and deliberate dismantling of good jobs by Qantas which has left the sector low paid, highly casualised and unable to attract and maintain workers. The TWU has been calling for a Safe and Secure Skies Commission to hold airlines like Qantas, as well as airports, to account for fair pay and conditions and decent standards for the travelling public.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine congratulated ground crew on holding firm to win the terms and conditions they needed to make their jobs sustainable.
“Dnata workers have succeeded, after months of negotiations, in winning an agreement that improves pay, rostering and work-life balance, and crucially ensures the company will now come with us to bring up the rest of the industry.
“The last few years of airport chaos have showed us how critical it is to have skilled and experienced workers in these jobs. After Qantas illegal outsourcing its ground handling operations they became casualised, insecure and low-paid—we now need to see those jobs improved right across the board, and dnata workers have gained critical ground here.
“What is clear is that we need to tackle the structural issues across aviation like poor rostering, low guaranteed hours and lack of job security because of the Qantas model of contracts constantly going to a lower bidder.
“We welcome dnata’s commitment to take the high road and pursue industry reform with us to bring up pay and conditions across the airport. If Qantas is serious about turning over a new leaf it will also realise it has a responsibility here, and work with us to build back decent, secure aviation jobs after spending a decade destroying them.
“Ultimately what we really need is a Safe and Secure Skies Commission to make sure that aviation works in the best interests of everyone, not just the interests of airline and airport executive bonuses.”