Airport firefighters in historic strikes over understaffing’ in Melbourne and Sydney

Another key part of the airline industry has voted to strike, pushing the sector closer to chaos over the busy summer holiday period.

Under international civil aviation laws, international airlines cannot land at airports without a fire and rescue team in place. Picture: Jeremy Piper

For the first time in Australian aviation history, airport fire and rescue teams have voted to stop work, in a move that will push the airline industry closer to chaos over the busy summer holiday period.

A protected action ballot by the United Firefighters Union’s aviation branch resulted in 93 per cent of firefighters backing the option of work stoppages of two to 12 hours. And 96 per cent upheld a no-confidence motion in Airservices Australia management.

The UFU is seeking a 15.5 per cent pay rise over three years for members, plus more staff to address what they say is a shortfall of 74 workers around the country.

Some 776 firefighters are currently employed across 27 airports Australia-wide.

Airservices Australia has offered 11.5 per cent over three years and insists that staff levels are adequate.

The Australian understands the strikes will mainly affect international airlines, with Qantas’s policies allowing its domestic carrier to work around the lack of emergency staff on the tarmac.

UFU aviation branch secretary Wes Garrett said the strong vote in favour of strike action highlighted the deep concerns of members about their capacity to protect Australia’s air travellers.

“At every major and regional airport across Australia we do not have enough aviation firefighters to provide the protection for air travellers that’s required by international aviation regulation,” he said.

The United Firefighters Union’s aviation branch secretary Wes Garrett says staff shortages are putting passengers at risk

“But despite our ongoing campaign and vocal calls for action on this issue, Airservices continues to deny that a problem exists and ­refuses to take any meaningful action, putting the lives of air travellers at risk.

“That’s why, for the very first time, aviation firefighters have taken the considerable step of voting to take work stoppages at airports across Australia.”

He said airports where A380s landed needed 17 firefighters rostered on to meet international standards, but at Melbourne and Sydney this number was typically around 14.

“This presents a significant risk to the safety and welfare of passengers and firefighters,” Mr Garrett said. “Our members want Airservices to urgently address this problem.”

Any strikes by fire and rescue teams have the potential to shut down airports, because of firefighters’ “essential worker status”.

Under international civil aviation laws, international airlines cannot land at airports without a fire and rescue team in place.

Domestic airlines are also unlikely to fly into airports without that service available.

Airservices Australia has vowed to take all steps possible to keep airports operating in the event of industrial action.

A spokeswoman said their position had not changed, and they rejected the union’s claims of understaffing or excessive redundancies during the Covid pandemic. “Airservices will continue to respond to the safety needs of airlines, airports and the travelling public,” the spokeswoman said.

“We call on the UFU to return to the negotiating table.”

Mr Garrett said the union was due to meet next week to determine when work stoppages would take place, for how long and in which locations.

“In accordance with the requirements of the Fair Work Commission, Airservices and the travelling public will be provided with seven days’ notice of any work stoppage before it takes place,” he said.

“Aviation firefighters take their duty to protect the lives of Australia’s air travellers extremely seriously.”

Qantas domestic cabin crew are also in the process of voting on protected industrial action, with a final decision expected by the end of the month. They are opposing a move by Qantas to extend their rostered duty hours from nine hours and 45 minutes to 12 hours and up to 14 during disruptions, saying it will result in significant fatigue issues.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said last month the Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia had agreed to the same conditions for members of rival airlines, and Qantas wanted the same.

Originally published as Airport firefighters in historic strikes over understaffing’ in Melbourne and Sydney