Qantas baggage handlers sacked by employer Swissport

Employer Swissport says the behaviour of workers seen slamming the luggage of Qantas passengers was ‘unacceptable’, but the union has defended them.

The video of Qantas baggage handlers throwing luggage around created outrage. Picture: TikTok

Two baggage handlers who filmed themselves slamming the luggage of Qantas passengers onto a Melbourne Airport conveyor belt, have been sacked by employer Swissport.

The video went viral on the weekend after being posted on social media site TikTok and then being shared on other platforms such as Twitter.

A Swissport spokesman said the behaviour of the two team members was “unacceptable” and after an urgent investigation those individuals were no longer employed by the company.

“In addition, we have conducted a briefing of all operations teams to remind them of the high standards we expect, and enforce,” said the spokesman.

“The unacceptable behaviour of a few individuals will not be allowed to tarnish the quality work of our whole team.”

He stressed that Swissport trained and managed all staff to handle customer possessions with “care and diligence”.

“Our 3000 strong team across the network works hard to ensure these standards are upheld, and it is important that when those standards are breached by a small group of individuals that we take action,” the spokesman said.

In response to the sackings, the Transport Workers Union said the baggage handlers were part of a workforce that had been “treated horrifically by management”.

TWU national secretary Michael Kaine claimed Swissport had itself admitted the company did not have the resources to meet the current demand for ground handling services.

“What you’ve got are burnt-out, understaffed workers who are penalised for every minute planes are delayed,” Mr Kaine said.

“Workers at Swissport don’t have the luxury that the illegally outsourced Qantas baggage handlers did, of knowing they had a good, secure job for life where they could support their families. These are now low-quality, transient jobs where workers are under extraordinary pressure in exchange for poor treatment.”

Qantas contracted Swissport to provide ground handling services at Melbourne Airport after outsourcing its own below the wing workforce in late 2020.

On Thursday, the airline declined to comment on the decision to sack the two baggage handlers, but previously described their conduct as “totally not acceptable”.

The TWU and Qantas will face off in the High Court next year, over the airline’s outsourcing of more than 1600 ground handling jobs.

Qantas claimed the outsourcing was solely done for commercial reasons, with the move intended to deliver savings of $100m a year.

But the Federal Court and Full Federal Court found the decision was in part motivated by a desire to avoid industrial action by the workers.

Last month Qantas was granted special leave to appeal that ruling in the High Court, with hearings expected to take place in April or May next year.