Sydney Airport’s Ampol refuellers set to walk off job for six hours, threatening flight schedules

Qantas and Virgin are among the airlines facing disruption when Ampol refuellers walk off the job at Sydney Airport next week.

Airlines operating out of Sydney Airport face disruption on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

After weeks of threats over a pay dispute, Ampol aircraft refuellers have announced they will walk off the job at Sydney Airport for six hours next Wednesday, July 31.

The industrial action will be staged over three two-hour stoppages, from 2am to 4am; 8.30am to 10.30am and 6pm to 8pm.

Ampol services 16 airlines at Sydney Airport, including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Delta, British Airways and Air New Zealand, and some disruption to flight schedules are likely.

The Transport Workers Union said the strikes followed 14 meetings between the bargaining team and Ampol management during the past six months, and a unanimous vote by refuellers in favour of protected industrial action.

Pay rises are at the heart of the dispute and the workers have rejected Ampol’s offer of a 25.3 per cent uplift in remuneration and other benefits over the life of the agreement.

TWU NSW and Queensland state secretary Richard Olsen said refuellers had received a 3.5 per cent increase over the past three years, at the same time as cost of living had spiked by more than 15 per cent.

There was also disagreement over “locked in” job security as the TWU has demanded more full-time roles and better part-time hours.

Of the 68 employees, only 24 were full-time, Mr Olsen said.

“If flights are delayed or cancelled because of industrial action, the blame lies solely with Ampol’s management for failing their workers,” he said.

“These workers are dedicated but they cannot accept further declines in wages and conditions, and they need better part-time hours and more full-time roles for job security.”

Virgin Australia and Qantas schedules face disruption on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

A Sydney Airport spokeswoman said the gateway would be ready to support airlines in mitigating the impact on operations.

This would include additional assistance to refuel, including escorting other groups of refuellers on to the airfield.

Qantas and Virgin Australia indicated they would work with Ampol on contingencies to ensure flights departed as planned on Wednesday.

On any given day more than a third of domestic flights fly in and out of Sydney Airport.

Ampol expressed its disappointment in the refuellers’ decision to strike given the remuneration offer, which added up to an extra 25.3 per cent, including benefits, over three years.

But a spokesman said it would “respect the right of any workers to participate in industrial action”.

“The contingencies we have in place will ensure minimal operational disruptions for customers, should any employees take part in the industrial action organised by the TWU,” the Ampol spokesman said.

“We believe the appropriate way to conclude the ongoing negotiations is through discussions in good faith to arrive at a resolution that satisfies the needs of both Ampol and our workers.”

Last month a fuel supply problem at Perth Airport caused 59 flights to be cancelled and many more delayed as aircraft could not be refuelled there for 12 hours.

This was not related to industrial action but a technical issue that resulted in air entering an underground fuel pipeline, causing low pressure in the system.