Our fight to rebuild ground jobs decimated by Qantas

Over more than a decade, Qantas drove standards in ground handling to rock bottom – including through the illegal outsourcing of over 1800 workers.

But TWU members are fighting back against Alan Joyce’s splintering of jobs, and working to rebuild decent, safe work in ground handling.

Multi-employer push for dnata and Menzies

With dnata and Menzies agreements aligned as part of the 2026 fight, members are pushing for multi-employer bargaining. This will allow employees with common interests, like ground crew, pit crew and baggage handlers, to gain extraordinary bargaining power, and lift pay and working conditions for ALL workers.

Swissport workers unionising

Swissport workers are organising nationwide, taking coordinated action to demand fair pay, secure full‑time jobs and safe work. With 400+ Swissport workers backing their claim and growing TWU membership, the message is clear: enough is enough.

Putting the spotlight on Swissport

With Swissport dragging down the industry with its dangerously low standards, workers are not just unionising, they’re putting a spotlight on Swissport and demanding it act.

TWU members have also obtained evidence of widespread safety breaches, including:

–       Damaged ground equipment, unsafe staffing levels, heat-based injuries and psychosocial hazards from intrusive worker surveillance

–     Refusal of entry for legally sanctioned safety inspections at Perth Airport

–      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.

These 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.

Workers are sending a message to Swisport: enough is enough. Stop risking the lives of workers and ensure they have decent, fair jobs.

It’s time to return aviation to an industry of life-time careers, not casualised, insecure jobs.

Along with powerful TWU-won laws like Same Job Same Pay, we’re fighting to lift standards right across the industry, and demanding airlines and airports pay up for decent jobs.

Find out more about our 2026 fight for our roads, our skies and our future.