Jetstar crews and baggage handlers to strike during Christmas lead-up

Jetstar ground crews and baggage handlers across the country have voted to strike in the weeks leading up to Christmas and beyond.

The decision was taken by workers after the airline rejected their demands for better employment conditions.

A statement released by the Transport Workers' Union on Friday said Jetstar agreed to “almost none” of the requirements outlined by workers, including 30 guaranteed hours of work per week and increases in current wages.

They also asked for a minimum of 12-hour breaks between shifts.

“Jetstar has also not put forward any of their own company claims. With negotiations at a stalemate, workers have no choice but to take action,” the statement read.

Workers also raised safety concerns they claim put themselves and the public at risk, like a lack of staff, faulty equipment and not enough experienced, trained staff on each shift.

A Jetstar spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia the company was “surprised the TWU pursued a protected action ballot” just two weeks after providing its full list of claims.

“As with all work groups across the Qantas and Jetstar Group, we have offered a 3 per cent annual wage increase – which is above private sector wage growth of around per cent,” the spokesperson said.

“The impact of any potential industrial action by members of the TWU is likely to be minimal as we have strong contingency plans in place.

“We remain committed to reaching a new agreement to support the great work our people do every day, but not any cost.”

Walking off the job in such close proximity to the holiday season would massively disrupt people’s travel plans, and thus it would be a “pretty significant call” if workers followed through on their threat, managing director at Aviation Projects Keith Tonkin told Yahoo News Australia.

“Everyone’s plans would have already been made, so this would affect the travelling public in a large way,” Mr Tonkin said.

He added it was unlikely workers had made any concrete decisions on what action specifically they would take if they failed to reach an agreement with Jetstar.

“They are probably using this as leverage to try and effect Jetstar’s decision to fall in their favour.”

‘A mutually agreeable decision’

Mr Tonkin recommended people with urgent travel requirements to consider alternative options, and to make sure their travel insurance will cover them if they get caught out with industrial action.

Jetstar was created in part to change the industrial climate, but as it has grown in size, scale and complexity, issues have formed in areas including employee conditions, Mr Tonkin said.

“I’m sure they will eventually arrive at a mutually agreeable conclusion.”

Given the Jetstar’s former reputation as a company that prioritised changing the industrial landscape, Mr Tonkin said.

With AAP

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