Airports will today be hit with nationwide protests centred on ground handler Swissport as safety blitzes reveal alarming breaches across the company, which received the bulk of Qantas illegally outsourced work.
With bargains commencing across ground handling, cabin crew, pilots, security and catering, thousands of aviation workers will have the potential right to take protected industrial action this year if airlines refuse to lift standards in their supply chains at companies like Swissport.
Swissport has a history of alarming safety issues impacting both on workers and the public:
· Safety blitzes this month revealed issues with damaged ground equipment, unsafe staffing levels, heat-based injuries and psychosocial hazards from intrusive worker surveillance.
· The company is meanwhile refusing entry for legally sanctioned safety inspections at Perth Airport
· The safety blitzes follow other horrific incidents across ground handling including a 21-year-old Swissport worker almost losing his leg at Brisbane Airport, a Qantas Freight worker killed on the job last year after being crushed by heavy machinery, and workers being electrocuted
· Last year it was revealed some ports are receiving up to 400 safety reports a month at Swissport
· The TWU has previously revealed other safety breaches at Swissport impacting on the public, from firearms being left on baggage carousels, passenger stairs removed from planes, and plane cargo doors left open.
Workers are calling on airlines and airports to properly fund fair standards in aviation at companies like Swissport and return good jobs to the sector, after a decade of pay and conditions reaching rock bottom under Alan Joyce's Qantas.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said:
"Aviation workers at Swissport and across the industry are now risking life and limb just by doing their job. Enabled by its clients like Qantas, Swissport employs workers under rock-bottom pay and conditions, and safety blitzes have recently revealed issues ranging from damaged ground equipment to critically unsafe under-staffing.
"Swissport is just the tip of the iceberg. Across aviation, workers are under immense and deadly pressure, generating huge profits for airlines and airports while their standards go backwards.
"Workers are standing up today to say enough is enough of risking their lives, their time with family and their health to do a job that doesn't recognize their value. These workers want to see aviation return to an industry of lifetime careers that they can be proud of, not transitory jobs nobody can afford to stay in.
"Airlines and airports making billions must pay their fair share to return an aviation industry with skilled, experienced workers and decent standards for passengers. They're making it clear today that they would be willing to take action if airlines and airports refuse to lift standards."
