[Peetwo]

The 925k Harfwit cuts back on Airport Fire & Rescue safety -   

(Ref: Exec remuneration 2021 pg 128)

Via the Oz:

Airport fireys threaten strikes ahead of holiday season




The move could mean more disruption for travellers after a tumultuous year with Qantas and Virgin Australia scrambling to restart flights after a lengthy period of reduced services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Picture: Tertius Pickard

EXCLUSIVE
ROBYN IRONSIDE
AVIATION WRITER
@ironsider

10:45AM OCTOBER 18, 2022
43 COMMENTS
Airports around the country could be thrown into total chaos after fire and rescue teams threatened to go on strike, demanding a 15 per cent pay rise over three years.

The 776 Airservices Australia employees are essential workers, and the Fair Work Commission has greenlit a vote for staff to decide whether to stop work for up to an entire shift.

If approved, that would throw airports including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane into chaos over the holiday break.

Qantas cabin crew on domestic flights last week threatened to go on strike, applying to the FWC for a similar approval. The move could mean more disruption for travellers after a tumultuous year with Qantas and Virgin Australia scrambling to restart flights after a lengthy period of reduced services during the Covid-19 pandemic.

United Firefighters Union aviation branch chief Wes Garrett said international airlines would not operate to airports without a fire and rescue team, and domestic carriers would also be reluctant.

“We don’t feel like there’s another option and this is something we take extremely seriously,” Mr Garrett said. “We’ve never talked about taking such strong action to try to force Airservices to address our concerns.”

The union says safety is at the heart of the dispute, although the union is also seeking a 15 per cent pay rise for the airport firefighters compared to an 10.5 per cent offer for the next three years which is currently on offer. Employees were also seeking an increase in the superannuation payments – from 14 per cent to 15 per cent.

Under the FWC order, Airservices Australia – which provides operational services to airports – must be given notice of seven days before any strike.

Despite a crew of 17 being considered the minimum for an airport where A380s operate, Sydney Airport was currently staffed by 14 firefighters at any one time, and Melbourne Airport 11, Mr Garrett said. “To cut the service to a point that when planes return you’re unable to live up to your regulatory requirements is a travesty.”

An Airservices Australia spokeswoman said enterprise negotiations with aviation rescue firefighting service employees were continuing “in good faith”.

“Airservices will take all steps necessary to prevent disruptions to flights as a result of the industrial action,” the spokeswoman said. “Our priority is to ensure the safe and efficient continuation of our services to keep Australian aviation moving.”

The decision comes days after the Flight Attendants Association said two groups of domestic cabin crew had filed a similar applications to undertake work bans and strikes.

Last week, FAAA national secretary Teri O’Toole said cabin crew were being threatened with outsourcing unless they signed a new enterprise agreement that “dramatically cut conditions”.

The shift extensions would result in cabin crew working for 12 hours instead of 9.45 hours, and up to 14 hours in the event of a disruption.

Ms O’Toole said crew were at the end of their tether and were standing up to “disgraceful outsourcing threats from Qantas management”.

  

MTF...P2