- ISS disappointed by threatened industrial action over busy holiday period
- Generous enterprise agreement offers over 11% wage rise in first year plus $2,500 sign-on bonus
- Stop-work actions could ruin Christmas travel plans for thousands
ISS is calling on the United Workers Union and its members to withdraw the industrial action threatened at Brisbane, Gold Coast and Townsville airports in the lead up to Christmas and to accept a generous enterprise agreement offering well above-award wages and conditions with a $2,500 sign-on bonus.
ISS Segment Director, Transport and Infrastructure, Phil Brezzo said:
"For several months ISS have been negotiating in good faith with the United Workers Union over a replacement enterprise agreement for our teams at Brisbane, Gold Coast and Townsville airports."
"We have offered a generous 11.1 per cent wage increase (5.1 per cent already applied from July 2022 plus 6 per cent from January 2023) as well as significant above-award conditions including extra allowances, increased paid break times, additional penalty rates, and extra paid leave. We have also offered a new classification structure to recognise employee service and provide career development pathways.
"ISS wants our employees to feel proud of the important job they do and be rewarded with fair wages and conditions, as well as a safe and supportive work environment. The proposed agreement delivers on this commitment and will ensure a secure and sustainable future for our people.
"We were advised on Friday 9 December that the union and its members plan to take industrial action, stopping work from 5am on Monday 19 December, at the busiest time of day, on the busiest day of the week, in what will likely be the busiest week of the year.
"Any industrial action will potentially throw the travel plans of tens of thousands of Australians into chaos and is particularly harsh given the previous two Christmas periods have been severely disrupted due to COVID-19. Due to high passenger loads and limited flight availability, people who are unable to fly due to the industrial action, may not have any alternative but to cancel their holiday travel plans."
ISS is calling on the union to withdraw its planned industrial action.
ISS is the largest provider of aviation screening services in Australia and has long term partnerships with 17 of the country's major airports and airlines. ISS security officers play a vital role in maintaining safety at our airports.
ISS employs up to 1000 people across airports in Queensland in highly-skilled roles such as aviation security screening.
