Airport workers get green light on industrial action vote

Dnata ground crew within Qantas’ supply chain will go ahead with voting on whether to take industrial action after the Fair Work Commission approved a union application to hold a protected action ballot.

Dnata ground crew have been fighting against an agreement that the Transport Workers Union (TWU) said will result in pay cuts and push workers into below the legal award conditions.

The company has so far denied workers’ attempts to increase part-time hours or invest in permanent positions to ease pressure on the chronically over-worked crews.

Workers have warned that without an offering that locks in basic rights and secure jobs to encourage experienced workers to return to the industry, the chaos seen at airports in recent months will only get worse.

A successful protected action ballot result would extend protections to workers under the Fair Work Act to take action, including possible strikes.

TWU national assistant secretary Nick McIntosh said industrial action was always a last resort, but Dnata workers shouldn’t be forced to accept a poor deal that would see working conditions go backwards.

“Dnata workers are overworked, exhausted and understaffed as they battle to plug gaps in working rosters,” McIntosh said.

“They reasonably deferred bargaining during the pandemic despite not receiving a cent of JobKeeper, and now just want a fair deal for themselves and their families.

“Workers are sending Dnata and its purse-string controllers at Qantas a clear message: settle a fair deal that locks in secure jobs with strong conditions, or workers may be forced to take further action.

“This obsessive focus on aviation profits has allowed these industry-wide problems to fester. The Albanese Government should cut out the rot with an independent Safe and Secure Skies Commission that can stem the flow of skilled workers leaving the industry and rebalance aviation towards secure jobs and quality services”.

According to the TWU, a recent staff memo from Dnata said unsafe behaviour had led to aircraft and equipment damage, telling workers they’re not allowed to use the term ‘under the pump’ when things go wrong.

Image: iStock/gerenme