SYDNEY AIRPORT MUST STEP IN: SECURITY WORKERS TAKE FURTHER STRIKE ACTION FOR JOB SECURITY

Hundreds of critical Certis security workers at Sydney Airport will strike on Friday across domestic and international terminals for job security, with the TWU calling on the airport to urgently step in to fund decent jobs instead of squeezing workers for obscene profits.

The workers will strike between 6am and 10am on Friday, then again from 5pm to 9pm, and are calling for more full-time jobs, fairer rostering, and no cuts to part-time hours.

Airport security workers at Sydney have faced years of job uncertainty from cost-cutting by Sydney Airport. The airport’s threats to end contracts have drained experience and led to job insecurity, poor pay, ever-changing rosters and dangerously low standards for workers and passengers.

These constant contract changes, resulting in a race to the lowest bidder, have seen Certis workers told earlier this year that they may lose their jobs if Sydney Airport did not renew the company’s contract.

The TWU is calling on Sydney Airport to stop this race to the bottom and fund reliable jobs to those who provide crucial safety services to the largest and busiest airport in the country.

Crisis bargaining talks are scheduled for Thursday.

In 2024-25, Sydney Airport reported its highest ever aeronautical profit of $584.3 million.

TWU NSW State Secretary Richard Olsen said:

“Sydney security workers perform safety-critical work for the busiest airport in Australia, but Sydney Airport has spent years smashing their conditions and keeping contracts in limbo so it can fatten its bottom line.

“These workers have already been forced to take strike action last month, and unless crisis talks result in a decent offer, they will be forced to again on Friday.

“After standards have fallen dangerously low from years of cost-cutting by Sydney Airport, these workers are simply asking for more full-time jobs, and rosters that aren’t changing by the hour. How can these workers get mortgages, fulfill caring responsibilities and take care of families, if their hours are further cut, or when their shifts can change around at a whim?

“If they don’t stand up for these basic rights, we’ll continue to see service standards decline for passengers.

“Anyone who’s parked at Sydney Airport won’t be shocked that it’s raking in profits. Sydney Airport needs to urgently step in here and fund decent standards for Certis workers providing this critical service to the travelling public.”

TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said:

“Sydney Airport is making record profits but refusing to invest it in the workforce keeping the travelling public safe—instead, it’s telling companies like Certis to cut wages and conditions or lose their contract.

“These workers are stepping up to rebuild decent jobs in their industry and call for an end to contracts going to the cheapest bidder.

“It is critical to hundreds of workers, and millions of travellers relying on them, that Sydney Airport stops squeezing workers for profit, and provides these workers with the job security they need to continue doing this vital work. It is unacceptable that the workers we rely on to get people safely through the airport are threatened with having their hours cut and rosters being constantly changed.

“Aviation has been driven down by airlines and airports prioritising profit above absolutely anything, including safety and passenger standards. We need the Federal Government to urgently act on its commitment of an Aviation Industry Coordination Council to bring the dysfunctional ecosystem together and once again prioritise workers and the community.”