Travellers have been warned of airport chaos ahead of the school holidays with industrial action planned at Brisbane, Canberra and Gold Coast airports.
Security officers are planning to strike at Brisbane and Gold Coast airports on 19 December and at Canberra airport on 16 December, according to a statement from Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC).
The issue at hand is a wage negotiation between the security company and its workforce, which BAC hopes to be resolved soon.
A security guard shortage could heavily impact operations, given the need to process large numbers of travellers around the holiday season.
Industrial action in Brisbane will take place on the Monday before Christmas over a four-hour period in the morning, posing a problem for the airport.
“We are concerned that hard-working Australians, many of whom have been unable to see family and take a restriction-free Christmas holiday for several years, could end up collateral damage in this wage negotiation,” a BAC spokesperson said.
“The date of the industrial action is in the middle of the holiday rush, and the time chosen covers the peak period of the day when we are at our busiest.
“Tens of thousands of families, and everyday hardworking Australians will have their travel plans potentially thrown into chaos if this industrial action takes place.”
The spokesperson questioned the nature of the industrial action, asking whether it was a proportionate action for a wage negotiation.
“I am concerned for those families who will not be able to afford or have the time to make last minute changes to their travel plans,” the spokesperson said.
“We hope that the union and ISS security can reach a fair and reasonable outcome in a time that allows Australians to have the Christmas holiday they deserve, and to reconnect with their family and friends.”
Between 350-400 security guards are set to strike on Brisbane and the Gold Coast if a deal was not made, according to UWU coordinator Damien Davie. He said the union workers are fighting for similar pay and conditions to their NSW and Victorian counterparts.
The ongoing staff shortages have put “extreme” pressure on the workers, according to Davie.
“It’s a high-pressure job. These guys are the last line of defence from bombs getting on planes,” he said.
“The gap is only a few dollars an hour but about a 10-15 per cent difference overall.”
Davie said there were hopes that industrial action could be avoided.
“They have been underpaid and undervalued for years, now it’s time to get a bit back,” he said.
Chaos ensued at Brisbane Airport in late November when six travellers made it through airport security unchecked, causing an entire terminal to evacuate.
