Strike targeting international airports called off as Emirates-owned dnata caves to union demands

Last-minute talks have averted a threatened strike by ground crews at major airports, after their employer agreed to union demands.

An all-day strike by airport ground crews that threatened to disrupt international flights has been averted after the Emirates-owned dnata agreed to union ­demands.

More than 1000 workers employed in ramp, cargo and baggage operations had voted in favour of a 24-hour strike on Wednesday in a bid for better rostering, job security and pay.

Airports and airlines including Qantas, Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines were making contingency plans in an effort to minimise disruption to passengers.

However, talks between dnata and the Transport Workers Union on Monday resolved the conflict, when the company agreed to a series of demands.

These included an 11 per cent pay rise over two years, a maximum of six consecutive rostered shifts, 48 hour rest periods and seven days’ notice of roster changes.

The TWU said dnata had also agreed to further negotiations with the union on any future work at Western Sydney International Airport.

Union secretary Michael Kaine congratulated the ground crew for holding firm to win the terms and conditions they needed to make their jobs stable.

“The last few years of airport chaos have showed us how critical it is to have skilled and experienced workers in these jobs,” said Mr Kaine.

A dnata airport operations spokeswoman confirmed an “in-principle agreement” had been reached with the TWU, and said they would continue to work collaboratively with the union in the best interests of all.

“Our employees are at the heart of our business and operations. We are proud to recognise their dedication and hard work with industry-leading salary increases that address cost-of-living pressures and deliver the highest average earnings in the Australian ground handling sector,” said the dnata spokeswoman.

“This agreement reflects our commitment to ensuring our workforce receives highly competitive and equitable compensation.”

Mr Kaine said dnata was one of the companies to benefit from Qantas’s decision to unlawfully outsource its ground handling operations in the Covid pandemic, affecting almost 1700 workers.

As a result, Mr Kaine said the ground handling workforce had become “casualised, insecure and low-paid”.

“We now need to see those jobs improved right across the board, and dnata workers have gained critical ground here,” he said.

On Tuesday Qantas and the TWU will return to mediation in an effort to determine appropriate compensation for the affected workers who were made redundant in early 2021.

Federal Court judge Michael Lee issued orders in October for the airline and union to sort out between themselves what the outsourced workers should receive in terms of payments, emphasising that those involved had waited long enough.

Qantas appealed Justice Lee’s original judgment to the full Federal Court and then the High Court, adding years to the ­process.

Justice Lee was also critical of the TWU’s approach, saying the union’s approach to determining compensation had only added to the wait for former Qantas workers.

“Apparently, the union is content to rely on the prospect of there being an outbreak of co-operation between the parties,” Justice Lee observed in his October 21 judgment, which awarded sums of $30,000, $40,000 and $100,000 to three “test” cases.

Further hearings in the matter were set down for December 23 and 24, in the hope of delivering a result for workers.