Protesters called for an end to low pay, forced part time jobs, casual work and split shifts. They warned these working conditions are risking safety and security because of high turnover rates and chronic fatigue.
“Airport workers are being ripped off while airports and airlines are making billions of dollars in profit. This doesn’t just affect the employees at airports but is causing safety and security breaches on a daily basis. If the Federal Government is serious about increasing security at our airports then it should start with holding airports and airlines to account for the conditions staff are forced to work in,” said TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon.
“Airport workers are sleeping at the airports because split shifts force them to stay at work for 15 hours and more while they are getting paid for as little as 6 hours. They are forced to struggle to support their families and put food on the table because of low pay and forced part-time work which guarantees them as few as 60 hours work per month. They are standing up to these injustices today and they are demanding fairness,” said TWU SA/NT Branch Secretary Ian Smith.
The four main airports Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth earned over $2 billion in profit in 2016-17, according to the ACCC’s monitoring report released last month.
Aviation ground services company Aerocare has been exposed after footage showed staff are forced to sleep at airports.
High injury rates among staff. At Sydney International Airport there were 132 injury incidents among a staff of 326 over a one-year period.