Jetstar in holding pattern over strike action

Jetstar is holding firm against strikes by the airline’s ground staff, who are demanding increased pay.

Jetstar cancelled 28 scheduled flights on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

Jetstar is holding firm against strikes by the airline’s ground staff, who are demanding increased pay and more security over guaranteed working hours.

Following the cancellation of 28 scheduled flights on Thursday due to a nationwide strike by 250 ground staff, the airline said it had managed to reschedule most affected customers within three to four hours of their original departure time.

A Jetstar spokesperson said few customers had opted for a refund.

Sydney domestic airport will bear the brunt of cancellations, with 18 inbound and outbound flights affected.

In addition 14 inbound and outbound flights from both Melbourne airports (Tullamarine and Avalon) and Brisbane’s domestic airport have been cancelled.

Cairns, Gold Coast and Hobart airports have also incurred cancellations, although no international flights are expected to be impacted.

Jetstar says the co-ordinated industrial action by both Transport Workers Union and Australian Federation of Air Pilots over the past week is expected to financially impact the airline by approximately $20m to $25m.

Jetstar pilots have not scheduled strikes for Thursday.

The TWU is demanding a 4 per cent pay increase in wages and stronger guarantees of minimum hours for part-time workers. The union argues some part-time workers are taking home weekly pay packets as low as $480 due to irregular shift hours.

National Secretary Michael Kaine said the airline had rejected the claims “outright” and had no offer on the table.

“Jetstar baggage and ramp workers are the lowest paid in the Qantas Group and their claim for a 4 per cent increase in wages is not unreasonable given that Qantas Group made $1.3bn profit this year and that Jetstar’s revenues are at $4bn,” Mr Kaine said.

Jetstar said it refused to negotiate with the union and “won’t be swayed by TWU’s stand-over tactics”.

The airline said it would only meet with the union if claims fitted within the company’s wages policy.

The union had previously agreed to 3 per cent wages deal in other parts of the Qantas Group in 2018, an amount Jetstar said it would negotiate at.

“The reality is, the TWU’s claims (4 per cent) equate to a 12 per cent increase in costs, including 6 per cent increase in salary and super, for Jetstar ground crew who earn around $70,000 per year on a part-time basis and around $90,000 per year on a full-time basis,” a spokesman said.

TWU’s claim also includes issues of safety for baggage and ramp workers, 12-hour breaks between shifts and commitments about engaging untrained casual staff. “Worker injuries are high at Jetstar because of deliberate understaffing, with workers recently reporting concussion, detached bicep, broken hand, broken leg and neck, shoulder and back injuries requiring surgery,” Mr Kaine said.