‘Outrageous’: Airport workers’ ‘frightening’ step

Sydney Airport security workers stage a walk-off in protest of job uncertainty and poor pay conditions.

The full report

Security workers at Sydney Airport have abandoned their posts in protest of 'years of job uncertainty' and poor pay conditions. The workers, who are members of the Transport Workers Union, will strike throughout the day on Friday, leaving the airport without key staff for most of the day.

The strike is a result of a dispute between the workers and airport management, with the Transport Workers Union saying that the workers have 'little choice' but to protest their conditions. The union is calling on the airport to 'urgently step in to fund decent jobs instead of squeezing workers for obscene profits'.

Between 6am and 10am, and then again between 5pm and 9pm, unionised Certis staff will walk off the job, likely creating significant processing delays during those time periods within the airport. The workers will be chanting slogans such as 'what's outrageous? Cervis wages' and 'union power' in front of Sydney's international terminal.

The Transport Workers Union national secretary, Michael Kaine, said that the workers had turned to striking as a 'last resort' because Sydney Airport had forced their hand. He stated that the workers are 'committed' to reaching a pay resolution and that the fault of the strike lies 'fairly and squarely at the feet of Sydney Airport Corporation'.

A Sydney Airport spokeswoman said that the airport is 'working closely with airport partners to minimise disruption and maintain passenger safety'. She recommended that passengers travelling today allow extra time and stay alert for messages from their airline.