Coronavirus: Aviation workers ‘struggling’ as stand downs leave hundreds with no income

Seventy per cent of aviation workers who took part in a TWU survey said they had been stood down, with 38 per cent left without income.

TWU national secretary Mich­ael Kaine says the ‘shocking’ surve­y results should prompt the government to take action to support ‘suffering’ aviation workers. Picture: Damian Shaw

Hundreds of aviation workers have been left with no income, with many forced to access superannuation savings during the COVID-19 crisis.

Seventy per cent of the 1000 aviation workers who took part in a Transport Workers Union survey­ said they had been stood down, with 38 per cent left without income and 29 per cent drawing down on their superannuation.

More than 40 per cent said they had suffered a fall in income of 20-60 per cent. Almost half said they were concerned they would not be able to support their families throughout the crisis, while 20 per cent said they were worried they would lose their house.

Sixty-seven per cent of the workers, who included airline caterers, cleaners, baggage hand­lers, ramp workers, security offic­ials, refuellers and drivers, said they were worried about their jobs,

Of those receiving the $1500 per fortnight JobKeeper wage subsidy, 60 per cent said the payment was not covering their needs.

Aviation workers are scheduled to hold rallies on Thursday at airports and the offices of federal government ministers calling for wider access to JobKeeper, support for Virgin and for the ­Coalition to implement a national plan for the aviation industry.

TWU national secretary Mich­ael Kaine said the “shocking” surve­y results should prompt the government to take action to support “suffering” aviation workers. “Workers have been stood down for several months, many have been shut out of JobKeeper and have no income at all,” he said.

“They and their families are struggling as they have been living off annual leave and savings which are now gone.

“Virgin is in voluntary administration and Qantas is quickly running­ out of cash. Workers are worried about their income and their future, yet the federal governmen­t continues to provide nothing more than a wall of silence on plans for their industry.”

Mr Kaine said governments around the world were supporting their aviation sectors. “Air travel is of particular importance in Australia­ yet the government is utterly­ directionless, with no plan and no policy,” he said.