REFUELLERS’ STOPPAGE AT SYDNEY AIRPORT
Airport Fuel Services’ refusal to bargain fairly has led to a 24-hour stoppage tomorrow by AFS employees at Sydney Airport.
The TWU has been in negotiations with AFS for more than six months.
AFS is determined to introduce two scales of pay for identical work. This goes against everything Australia is built on, and we have opposed it.
The company offered permanent staff five per cent increases for four years if they signed off on this odious proposal, which would see all casuals, new employees, and casuals made up to permanent take an hourly pay cut of $13 to $16.
They refused to sell their colleagues down the river.
A full-bench decision by Fair Work Australia has found that the TWU has the right to bargain for a “site rate” to cover permanent staff and casuals. Accordingly, we proposed to AFS that the pay increase be a reduced 3.5 per cent over three years.
Our members were happy to take the cut for an equal rate of pay for equal work.
AFS rejected our proposal, and threatened staff with a seven-day lock-out.
Staff voted unanimously for protected action as their last resort. They have waited until the end of school holidays to exercise it.
In order to produce a resolution to the dispute and avert the stoppage, TWU met with AFS management on Monday, proposing compromises on the claim, and requesting AFS agree to arbitration by Fair Work Australia. AFS rejected the amended claim, refused arbitration by the workplace umpire, and walked out on negotiations.
AFS’s intransigence has led to this stoppage.
Slight delays are expected on the following domestic routes: Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin, and Perth. There will be some delays on outbound international flights, and long-haul, inbound international flights that need to divert to Singapore or Bangkok to refuel.
Passengers are urged to contact their carrier for the latest updates on any delays.
MEDIA CONTACT: Michael Wong 9912 0708 / 0404 567 054
AFS is determined to introduce two scales of pay for identical work. This goes against everything Australia is built on, and we have opposed it.
The company offered permanent staff five per cent increases for four years if they signed off on this odious proposal, which would see all casuals, new employees, and casuals made up to permanent take an hourly pay cut of $13 to $16.
They refused to sell their colleagues down the river.
A full-bench decision by Fair Work Australia has found that the TWU has the right to bargain for a “site rate” to cover permanent staff and casuals. Accordingly, we proposed to AFS that the pay increase be a reduced 3.5 per cent over three years.
Our members were happy to take the cut for an equal rate of pay for equal work.
AFS rejected our proposal, and threatened staff with a seven-day lock-out.
Staff voted unanimously for protected action as their last resort. They have waited until the end of school holidays to exercise it.
In order to produce a resolution to the dispute and avert the stoppage, TWU met with AFS management on Monday, proposing compromises on the claim, and requesting AFS agree to arbitration by Fair Work Australia. AFS rejected the amended claim, refused arbitration by the workplace umpire, and walked out on negotiations.
AFS’s intransigence has led to this stoppage.
Slight delays are expected on the following domestic routes: Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin, and Perth. There will be some delays on outbound international flights, and long-haul, inbound international flights that need to divert to Singapore or Bangkok to refuel.
Passengers are urged to contact their carrier for the latest updates on any delays.
MEDIA CONTACT: Michael Wong 9912 0708 / 0404 567 054