“It will be chaos.” That’s the warning from the United Workers Union as Perth Airport screening officers walked off the job today, with a larger stoppage also planned for Monday’s peak FIFO departure rush.
The union says passengers should expect significant delays, while Perth Airport says it does not expect the industrial action to disrupt operations and is working to minimise any impacts.
Walk-off timed to maximise disruption
Between 20 and 50 workers walked off strategically across Perth Airport’s four terminals from 9am today. UWU national aviation lead Carl Ratana told Travel Weekly the timing was deliberate.
“It takes a long time for the CT and X-ray machines to reboot, anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. That’s going to create chaos, with lanes being closed, which is going to create delays for the travelling public today,” Ratana said.
A larger wave of industrial action is planned from 5am on Monday, coinciding with one of Perth Airport’s busiest departure periods for FIFO and business travellers.
“There’ll be several hundred walking off on Monday,” Ratana said. “It will be chaos.
“The travelling public need to be ready for disruptions and make sure they get here early enough to get through screening with enough time to make their flights. Several hours earlier than normal.”
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Airport says no impact expected
Perth Airport confirmed it was aware of the planned action, telling Travel Weekly in a statement that it relates to ongoing negotiations over the ISS Perth Aviation Security Enterprise Agreement.
“Perth Airport is working closely with ISS to minimise any disruption to passengers and airport operations,” a spokesperson said.
“The safety and security of passengers, staff and visitors remain Perth Airport’s highest priority. There will be no impact to aviation security operations as a result of the industrial action.”
Rostering the key issue, union says
While pay is a factor, Ratana said poor rostering practices are the central issue driving the dispute, leaving many workers unable to earn a living or hold down other jobs.
“The rostering practices here are poor. Workers don’t know week by week what their hours are the following week,” Ratana said.
Many Perth screening officers are employed on contracts guaranteeing just 16 hours a week, receive rosters with as little as seven days’ notice and must remain available for additional shifts.
“No one can live off 16 hours a week,” Ratana said.
Aviation security officers in the eastern states, by comparison, have a minimum engagement of 60 hours a fortnight.
Only around 20 per cent of ISS’s roughly 815-strong Perth workforce is employed full-time, largely in team leader and supervisory roles, compared with a minimum 50 per cent full-time requirement at Brisbane, the most directly comparable airport by size, staffing and role type.
“Workers who are on the least amount of money, who are the most vulnerable, are on the least hours and the worst wage,” Ratana said.
Pay gap with eastern states
Pay remains a live issue too, with Perth screening officers paid between 13 and 19 per cent less per hour than ISS colleagues performing the same role in Brisbane.
“It’s not cheaper to live in Perth. There’s no real difference to say why workers here are treated differently,” Ratana said.
Ratana said the disruption was entirely avoidable.
“This could all be avoided if Perth Airport got on the phone to ISS and said, ‘Put up a fair offer to workers.’ What members are asking for is nothing more than what security officers across the country get,” Ratana said.
ISS said to Travel Weekly:
ISS is currently negotiating an Enterprise Agreement with our Aviation Screening Officers at Perth Airport to ensure they continue to receive fair and appropriate compensation and working conditions.
We continue to work closely with Perth Airport as the safety and security of passengers, staff and visitors remains our highest priority. There will be no impact to aviation security operations as a result of today’s protected industrial action.
Throughout these negotiations, we remain committed to working constructively with the United Workers Union to progress negotiations and reach an agreement that supports our people while ensuring the continued delivery of safe and reliable aviation security services.
We will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with the United Workers Union toward a resolution and remain confident that we can reach a positive outcome.
Have you or your clients experienced delays at Perth airport? Contact us at sofia@travelweekly.com.au.
