Today is not a good day to travel overseas

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Travellers departing internationally from Australian airports today are being warned to arrive early and expect delays as a result of a strike by members of the Australian Border Force and Department of Immigration.

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) announced members will today walk off the job for 24 hours, to protest a protracted dispute with the Federal Government over pay and conditions.

CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood said while the action could cause delays at international airports, staff working in intelligence and counter-terrorism would not be affected.

“Despite Border Force’s cynical tactics in the Fair Work Commission prior to the election, our members are 100 per cent committed to national security and their action will not compromise the safety of passengers in any way,” Flood said.

This is the first strike since the Federal Government won a Fair Work Commission ruling preventing industrial action for three months, on the basis that terrorists or criminals could exploit depleted staff numbers during a strike.

The union has been locked in a pay dispute with the Federal Government for more than two years.

Flood said Prime Minister Turnbull can “avert future strike action, including the prospect of broader industrial action across the Commonwealth public sector, by working with us to fix this mess.”

Other departments, including quarantine and biosecurity, are also scheduled to hold stop-work meetings on 12 August.

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

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