Jetstar flights face disruption from ground crew strike, amid pay dispute

Industrial Relations minister attacks a bid to leverage a tourism sector already reeling from coronavirus and bushfires.

Jetstar flights face disruption from a TWU strike. Picture: Chris Raezer

The federal government has weighed into the Jetstar dispute with its ground workers, calling on the warring parties to return to the negotiating table and spare the tourism industry more disruption.

The low fares carrier has warned it will have to cancel flights on Wednesday with the Transport Workers Union calling a 24-hour strike affecting six airports. 

It follows a “final” offer made to the TWU by Jetstar this week, which came with a warning that it would be put to workers directly next week regardless of the TWU’s response.

Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter said such industrial action would only further damage the embattled tourism industry, already reeling from bushfires and the coronavirus outbreak. 

“This is not the right time to use the actuality or threat of escalated actions to leverage negotiating advantage,” Mr Porter said. 

“That is ultimately bad for workers because any escalation in industrial action will only cause further harm to the image of Australia as an international tourist destination and will also impact on the confidence of domestic travellers as they consider local travel plans.”

He urged parties to return to the bargaining table “and negotiate in good faith”. 

“Reasonable offers should be put by both sides and fully considered in an effort to resolve the matter and minimise harm to employees, the employer and the travelling public,” said Mr Porter. 

Jetstar CEO Gareth Evans said the airline normally operated between 300 and 400 flights across Australia on any given weekday, carrying 50,000 passengers. 

“I think there will be some cancellations but we’re working through that at the moment,” Mr Evans said. 

“We’re working with our partner Qantas to try to minimise the disruption and those delays.” 

He said the TWU’s decision to disrupt air travel at a time when the local tourism industry and the economy were hurting was “unforgivable”.

“It’s another example of how out of touch this union is,” Mr Evans said.

“We have put a package to the TWU and our people that includes a 3 per cent annual pay increase and a year’s worth of backplay for each employee plus a range of other benefits related to rosters.”

But TWU national secretary said the offer made by Jetstar was “deliberately designed to keep Jetstar workers impoverished, and would also allow the company to demote them without consultation”.

“Jetstar workers do not take this decision lightly and we apologise to members of the public who will be unable to fly on Wednesday,” Mr Kaine said.

“But these workers are in the fight of their lives for a decent standard of living, to be able to put food on the table and to ensure they and their kids have a future.”

Jetstar is also negotiating with pilots on a new agreement with further talks scheduled for next week.

Jetstar has experienced some more challenging times in the last 12-months with weak demand in the budget leisure sector, and the axing of regional New Zealand routes.

As a result of a network and fleet review, Jetstar and parent Qantas identified three Boeing 787-8s on loss making or marginal routes that it is now looking to sell.

The sales are expected to have an impact on jobs.