TWU TO CHALLENGE SUBSTANDARD AEROCARE AGREEMENT

An analysis by the TWU shows rates proposed by the company will leave staff at a minimum up to $8.50 an hour worse off than the award, which will result in millions of dollars in wage theft each year. 

The new agreement, like previous Aerocare’s agreements, also includes:

• No more than 60 hours guaranteed a month (no weekly guarantee)
• Below award rates for weekends, Good Friday, Christmas, etc
• Split shifts, which are precluded under the award
  

“Aerocare staff deserve better than this shoddy agreement. Over $680 million changed hands over the sale of Aerocare to Swissport this year and yet the company seeks to rob from among the lowest paid airport workers. Aerocare is trying to game the system and wealthy airports and airlines are reaping the benefits of this wage theft,” said TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon.

The vote on a new Aerocare agreement was neither secret nor transparent. It was held on the company’s internal online system with employees sent a message back confirming which way they had voted. Click here to see the message Aerocare sent to workers after they voted: bit.ly/Aerocare_vote

     
The Fair Work Commission rejected a 2017 Aerocare agreement last August, because of its low rates, split shifts and because casual employees were excluded from voting.      

“Aerocare’s business model is about keeping its staff intimidated and desperate for hours at work. But this model does not just affect staff, it is impacting on safety and security at our airports,” Sheldon added.      

Aerocare last year was exposed after footage showed staff were forced to sleep at airports. Since then more information has emerged including:    
 

• High injury rates among staff. At Sydney International Airport there were 132 injury incidents among a staff of 326 over a one-year period.
• Security incidents, including passengers at Perth airport allowed airside to collect their baggage after a baggage handler was left alone to unload an entire aircraft
• Staff being forced back to work while still injured
• Aerocare managers accompanying injured staff into doctors’ surgeries during appointments
• Broken and faulty equipment in use around aircraft and passengers

     
An ACCC report last week showed the four main airports made profits of over $2 billion last year.      

Click here for info on Aerocare breaches: http://www.twu.com.au/aerocare-breaches/