WORKERS PROTEST AT CAIRNS AIRPORT FOR BETTER, SAFER JOBS
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The airport’s annual report reveals earnings up 7.2% to $1.28 billion and profits up 9% to almost $900 million. The new Sydney Airport chief executive was paid over $1million to accept the job, bringing his total pay packet to almost $5 million. The report also reveals that despite making large profits the airport pays no income tax and only “expects to commence paying cash income tax from the 2022 calendar year”.
Sydney airport workers, from baggage handlers to cabin crew to aircraft cleaners, are preparing a claim to serve on the airport in coming months demanding:
the same pay for the same job, regardless of which company engages workers
secure work with permanent full-time jobs
safety and security as a number one priority, rather than a focus on engaging work to be carried out for the lowest cost possible
Claims will also be served on airports around the country.
“Sydney airport workers are forced onto insecure, low paid, part-time jobs in which they scramble to increase their hours from as little as 15 or 20 hours a week. At the same time the airport at the top of the supply chain is seeing its earnings and profits jump. These profits are being made off the back of struggling airport workers, some of whom are having to access school lunch vouchers for their kids and have no chance of securing loans to buy a car or a house. We want to see fairness brought back into jobs at the airport which is why we will serve our claim shortly,” said Michael Kaine TWU National Secretary.
“The lack of quality jobs at the airport is impacting on safety and security. High turnover of staff and chronic fatigue from gruelling split shifts is resulting in high injury rates among staff and daily safety and security breaches. If the Federal Government is serious about making our airports safe and secure it must hold the airports to account over the downgrading of jobs,” he adds.
“Passengers who travel through Sydney Airport will be shocked to learn how much profit the airport makes and how little its hard-working staff take home. They will be shocked to learn the airport paid out over $1 million to lure the new CEO into the job. They will be disgusted when they hear that the airport pays no income tax. It is time for Sydney Airport and other airports around the country to be held accountable for the practices and conditions throughout their supply chains,” Kaine added.
Workers at Sydney Airport were revealed to be sleeping behind baggage carousels during split shifts, which see them at the airport for 15 hours and more but just paid for as little as six hours. The airport cleaned up the bedding area the day after media reported on it.
At Sydney International Airport, 134 injuries were reported among the Aerocare Swissport ground-handling staff of just 326.