Air travel from holiday destinations Cairns and Mackay is expected to be disrupted this Friday as security screening officers take strike action.
The security screeners are seeking wage parity with their colleagues at Brisbane, Gold Coast and Townsville Airports.
United Workers Union Property Services Director, Lyndal Ryan said:
“Trident Services and Cairns Airport can ensure families are able to return to Brisbane on time for the commencement of school by committing to pay their security screeners at rates equivalent to those of screeners at Brisbane.”
Ms Ryan said that the pay difference has no justification.
“These officers work diligently to keep our skies safe. Security screeners at Cairns and Mackay are just as important to keeping the travelling public safe as their counterparts at Brisbane, Townsville and the Gold Coast.”
United Workers Union has reached out to Airport owner, North Queensland Airports, seeking their intervention in order to resolve the dispute.
“Union members do not want to disrupt the travelling public. Ultimately, it is North Queensland Airports who can intervene and resolve this dispute, and we hope that they do this before stoppages commence.”
Quotes from workers at the affected Airports:
Cairns Airport:
“For two years running Cairns Airport has been crowned Airport of the year but there has not been one shout-out to the hard-working security screeners keeping passengers safe. Many of us are struggling to earn a liveable wage to support our families. All we are asking is a decent wage for the very important job in keeping our airports safe.”
– Norman Ferguson, UWU Delegate and Airport Security Worker, Cairns Airport
Mackay Airport:
“Testing, qualifications, and responsibilities are the same in Mackay as in Brisbane, Sydney or any other airport. We deserve to be paid the same. Security at Mackay is just as important as security in Brisbane.”
– Allans Maddison, UWU Delegate and Airport Security Worker, Mackay Airport
ENDS