Gold Coast Airport says great news as ISS and United Workers Union come to an agreement amid planned strike
A planned strike at the Gold Coast Airport on one of the busiest days of the year has had a surprising turn of events.
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A planned security staff strike threatening to bring Gold Coast Airport to a halt on one of the busiest days of the year has been called off.
Between 350 to 400 security guards from the Gold Coast and Brisbane airports had threatened to walk off the job between 5am and 9am on December 19.
But on Thursday, the Gold Coast Airport shared a post which said the planned industrial action by security screening staff had been “called off”.
“This is the best possible outcome for those travelling to see their loved ones this Christmas,” the post said.
The strikes by Integrated Security Systems (ISS) staff had also planned to hit Brisbane Airport the same day and Canberra on Friday.
Union workers had been fighting ISS for more than six months for similar pay and conditions to NSW and Victorian counterparts.
United Workers Union co-ordinator Damien Davie confirmed they had come to an agreement on Wednesday afternoon, matching their Sydney counterparts.
In a statement last week, Mr Davie said: “It’s a high-pressure job. These guys are the last line of defence from bombs getting on planes”.
“The gap is only a few dollars an hour but a 10 to 15 per cent difference overall.
“They have been underpaid and undervalued for years. It’s time to get a bit back,” he said.
When strike will hit GC Airport and how long delays will be
Gold Coast travellers are being warned they will face a holiday crush when planned airport strikes disrupt one of the busiest days of the year.
Between 350 to 400 security guards from the Gold Coast and Brisbane airports are threatening to walk off the job between 5am and 9am this coming Monday.
The forecast strikes by Integrated Security Systems (ISS) staff are also tipped to hit Brisbane Airport the same day and Canberra this Friday.
Queensland Airports Limited chief operating officer Marion Charlton said the Gold Coast Airport was aware of the potential industrial action, warning travellers to arrive much earlier than normal.
She advised domestic travellers arrive 90 minutes before scheduled flights and those going overseas three hours prior.
It was working closely with its partners at ISS to prepare for potential impacts on “one of their busiest days of the year”, she said.
“It’s Australia’s first restriction-free festive period in three years and we know by the number of passengers passing through our airport, people want to travel to see family and loved ones,” she said.
“Gold Coast Airport recognises the important role our security officers play in maintaining the safety of travellers, visitors and our team working within the terminal.
“We hope the United Workers Union and ISS are able to reach a resolution without causing disruptions to people’s long-awaited Christmas travel plans.”
United Workers Union co-ordinator Damien Davie said union workers had been fighting ISS for more than six months for similar pay and conditions to NSW and Victorian counterparts.
“It’s a high-pressure job. These guys are the last line of defence from bombs getting on planes.
“The gap is only a few dollars an hour but a 10 to 15 per cent difference overall.
“They have been underpaid and undervalued for years. It’s time to get a bit back.”
A Swissport customer service agent, at Gold Coast Airport, supported the United Workers Union strike plans, hoping it would make changes for all workers
A lack of suitable pay and no support from their company Swissport “makes it hard to simply turn up to work”, they said.
Swissport has contracts with Virgin, Rex and Air New Zealand at the Gold Coast Airport.
“It takes a huge toll on myself and my colleagues as we have one of the hardest working positions in the airline industry,” they said. “We are rewarded with minimum wage.”
The employee said it was common to “cop abuse from passengers when there’s flight cancellations or delays due to staff shortages”.
“Being with a company offering little to no support when we need it, makes it harder every shift to even simply turn up,” they claimed.
Keeping up with flights was challenging given staffing.
“When there is numerous flights open for check in, and they are all full if not oversold, there is only one or two staff running the check in,” the employee said.
“Hundreds demanding help with bag tags, boarding passes and seat changes can get overwhelming.”
The employee said the ramp staff were struggling with shortages, with multiple lost bags every flight.
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