Airport strike looms for Grand Final

Airport strike looms for Grand Final

Perth airport workers are refusing to rule out a strike over the AFL grand final weekend as a wage dispute with oil giant Shell continues.

Aircraft refuellers unanimously voted to take protected industrial action against employer ZIP Airport Services, owned by Shell, in a secret ballot earlier this week.

Transport Workers Union of Australia state secretary Tim Dawson said members were now considering when they would strike, and refused to rule out the possibility of industrial action falling on grand final weekend.

Dawson said the refuellers had sought wage talks since late last year but discussions only began in March.

Shell had initially offered a wage rise of three per cent per year over three years, plus a sign-on bonus, but had then changed the offer to 1.2 per cent per year with no sign-on bonus.

While the original offer was “half reasonable”, the West Australian refuellers wanted parity with their eastern states counterparts, which meant they’d need a pay rise of five per cent in the first year followed by four per cent over the next two years.

Dawson was angry Shell representatives failed to turn up at a pre-arranged meeting this week, citing illness.

“You would have thought they’d find someone,” he told AAP.

“We’re trying everything in our power to avoid (industrial) action.”

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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