Qantas ground handlers to strike next week

Waiting for the flight. Full length portrait of aviation crewmembers. Passenger airplane and trolleys with luggage on background
By James Harrison


Ground handlers at Dnata, the Emirates-owned company which supplies handlers for Qantas, will hold a 24-hour strike on Monday 12 September.

96 per cent of Dnata workers voted in favour of the strikes, triggering protected industrial action for about 350 workers across Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide. Many Dnata workers are only guaranteed 20 hours per week, despite understaffing and pressure on workers, according to the Transport Workers Union (TWU).

Ground workers at Menzies in NSW and Victoria will apply to the Fair Work Commission to hold a protected action ballot.

TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said workers have found it distressing to have their wages threatened at a time when staff are in short supply.

“Dnata and Menzies ground workers are forced to pursue strike action for the first time because they can’t afford to stay in this industry if the extreme downward spiral of wages and conditions continues,” Kaine said.

“Ground handling is a highly-skilled job, but thousands of experienced workers have been forced out of the industry by Qantas’ illegal outsourcing and the Morrison Government refusing Dnata workers JobKeeper. Those that are left are scrambling to pick up the pieces for scraps.”

The handlers are striking after the workers could not reach an agreement with Dnata. The union workers claim that Dnata wants to establish an agreement that will result in pay cuts and push workers into below the legal award conditions.

“We will continue to negotiate with the TWU with the support of the Fair Work Commission to reach an agreement that avoids industrial action for the benefit of our employees, customers and operations,” a Dnata spokesperson said. “We are disappointed that we have been unable to reach an agreement with the bargaining representatives to date.”

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.

Dnata picked up low-cost contracts for ground work at Qantas after the airline illegally outsourced nearly 2,000 ground and baggage crew.

Meanwhile, pressure continues to build with the flying kangaroo set to feature in an episode of Four Corners on the ABC tonight. Qantas employees have offered a behind-the-scenes look at the embattled airline, painting a picture of “ruthless cost-cutting”, a “divide and conquer culture” and alleged safety risks.

The Four Corner’s episode is set to air tonight at 8:30pm and will be available on iView.

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