Jetstar strike: Union gives $100 grocery vouchers to ground crew joining in 24-hour strike

The Transport Workers Union denies the grocery vouchers were a bribe to Jetstar ground crew to join today’s industrial action.

Jetstar is at loggerheads with the Transport Workers Union which wants a guaranteed 30-hour working week for all ground crew.

Jetstar ground crew workers have been given $100 grocery vouchers by the Transport Workers Union in return for supporting a 24-hour strike over a new pay deal at six airports on Wednesday.

The union confirmed the vouchers were offered as “a small gesture” to compensate the workers for the loss of wages and denied they were a bribe.

Jetstar CEO Gareth Evans said the vouchers were a sign of “desperation” by the union as it pushed a “broader agenda”.

“The fact the TWU has decided to take this action at a time when a lot of Australia is doing it tough shows how out of touch they are,” Mr Evans said.

“In fact the TWU is not interested in doing a deal. We have had to go directly to our workforce and we have put our best offer on the table.”

He said the outcome of the workers’ vote would be known early next week.

“We have a third of our workforce on full time contracts. They earn an average of $90,000 a year, some of them over $100,000,” said Mr Evans.

“The remaining workers are permanent part-time. That’s how every airline manages this work group because of the peaks and troughs. They earn an average $63,000 a year, well above the award and we have a very fair, very strong package on the table to grow their earnings.”

The low fares carrier cancelled 48 domestic services in response to the 24-hour strike but Mr Evans said all passengers were able to be re-accommodated on same day flights, and most within 3-hours of their original flight time.

He said less than a third of their workers were taking part in the action but the TWU disputed that figure.

The TWU wants an undertaking from Jetstar that all ground crew workers will get a minimum of 30-hours a week, saying it was not the 3 per cent pay rise in question but the issue of underemployment.

A survey released by the TWU showed 80 per cent of respondents said they struggled to pay household bills and wanted more hours of work to help make ends meet.

The survey also revealed high injury rates among the baggage handlers, who said most incidents were as a result of “rushing” because there were not enough workers.

TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said the results were “utterly shocking and revealed the desperate situation” facing Jetstar workers.

“Workers are fearful of going to work because of the terrifying injuries they are forced to sustain,” Mr Kaine said.

“They can’t spend time with their families because of the constant chase they are in for more hours. When they are off work they are ashamed of the poverty they have placed their families in.”

Jetstar is continuing negotiations with pilots who staged industrial action in December over a pay dispute.