The Transport Workers Union has called for an immediate upgrade of security at all airports after the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) claimed ground staff at the airport were not being screened adequately.

---

TWU national airline official, Scott Connolly, said that with a high turnover of staff due to labour hire practices, contracted baggage handlers, caterers and cleaners were rarely screened by any competent authority.

“The pilots have come out and confirmed what we have know for years – and that is airport operators and airlines were not undertaking proper screening of staff in restricted zones,” Mr Connolly said.

AIPA spokesmen, Max Thompson, told the Sydney Morning Herald that ‘’It’s a requirement that these workers be screened for weapons, but I’ve never seen a metal detector at the gate. People can access the aeroplane and put something on it with far greater ease than they should be able to.’’

The Transport Workers Union has called on the Office of Transport Security, as well as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to immediately ban non-screened or non-ASIC checked workers from accessing restricted areas at the nation’s airports.

“The federal government authorities must act immediately and ensure those servicing aircraft at Australian airports have the relevant training and security checks,” Mr Connolly said.

“Passengers, pilots and flight attendants are all subject to screening yet a contractor using labour hire can have anyone working on planes and because it is out of the public eye – it is tolerated.

“There is a real and serious threat here. The authorities must act now to ensure all necessary precautions are in place,” Mr Connolly said.