Source : Perth Now news
Travel chaos is looming for thousands of Aussies this Grand Final weekend, as Jetstar customer service staff at multiple major airports announce they will strike ahead of the weekend showdown.
On Friday, Australian Service Union workers working across major airports will halt all work for one hour.
Impacted airports include Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Cairns.
Workers with also cease non-essential duties for the day, including routine passenger announcements and calls, disruption and cancellation management tasks.
Following on from last weekend’s industrial action, union members will also have the right to wave excess baggage charges, seat change fees, late fees and other eligible sales related transactions for customers.
A Jetstar spokeswoman advised the strike action would not impact customer flights across the weekend.
“We have strong contingency plans in place and don’t expect there will be any impact to customers’ flights as a result of industrial action,” she said.
“We will continue to keep customers updated.”
The strike action comes after pay negotiations between the parties failed to come to a resolution.
“Our members help people get where they need to go,” ASU assistant national secretary Scott Cowen said.
“They’re the reason people can travel Jetstar this Grand Final weekend and they’re connecting friends and family across the country and beyond, during school holidays. That work does not stop being hard just because a company decides it is not worth paying properly for.
Mr Cowen said the union was forced to strike when Jetstar would not come to the table with a reasonable offer to reflect increasing earnings.
“Our members don’t want to take action, but they’re left with no other choice,” Mr Cowen said.
“They’re taking action because during a cost-of-living crisis, during extreme weather conditions, the airline has failed to support workers with extra weather protections or a pay offer that responds to this crisis properly.
“Jetstar’s domestic earnings are up 15 per cent this year on record passenger numbers, and Qantas Group is turning a profit.
“A 2.1 per cent pay rise for the people who made that possible is not what a fair share looks like.
“Jetstar has the money and the record year to make this right. Every day it chooses not to is a day our members decide how much further they are prepared to take this.”
It is understood Jetstar have proposed a 2.1 per cent pay increase for its customer service workers, including backpay to April, to build to a 3 per cent rise from April 2027.
The offer is reported to include a new structure recognising experienced workers, improved penalties and allowances and flexible rosters.
Jetstar told media the deal was a “fair offer” which would ensure they could deliver low-cost value to customers in a time when aviation fuel costs were rising.
“It is very disappointing the ASU has chosen to pursue further industrial action despite Jetstar putting forward a comprehensive and fair offer, including meaningful pay increases, improved penalties and allowances, and greater rostering flexibility,” a Jetstar spokeswoman said.
“This offer delivers strong outcomes for our people while ensuring we can continue to invest in our fleet, grow our network and keep fares low, at a time when fuel costs continue to put pressure on the aviation industry.”
