Melbourne Airport staff to protest for better conditions

Melbourne Airport staff will protest on Wednesday as the Transport Workers’ Union pushes for better conditions for its members. But the action is not expected to take a toll on travellers.

Airport staff will protest at Tullamarine on Wednesday as the Transport Workers’ Union builds momentum for a wave of strike action across the country.

The powerful union will lead protests between 11am and 2pm near airports around Australia as it pushes for better conditions for its ­members.

Melbourne staff will lead demonstrations at the Park Royal Hotel from 1pm after TWU leaders revealed a plan for widespread industrial ­action next year.

In 2020, the union is set to renegotiate 200 enterprise agreements covering 38,000 workers.

“Behind the shiny facades of our airports lies an appalling reality for airport workers,” TWU national secretary ­Michael Kaine said.

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“Airports make billions of dollars in profit and the federal government is refusing to hold them to account for the rip-off of airport workers.”

Mr Kaine said changes to working conditions meant some staff had been forced to sleep at terminals between split shifts.

The protests in Melbourne are not expected to have an impact on flights.