Security workers at Sydney Airport started strike action on Friday, with travellers urged to allow extra time and stay alert for updates over coming hours.
The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) action is from 6am to 10am and 5pm to 9pm, potentially impacting security screening at domestic and international terminals.
Security workers at Sydney Airport are holding strike action on Friday, October 16. 9News
Sydney Airport says it is working to minimise disruption and ensure passenger safety.
“We recommend passengers travelling on Friday allow extra time and stay alert for messages from their airline,” an airport spokesperson said.
Travellers should allow extra time to move through the airport and check for flight updates before leaving home.
Sydney Airport says extra baggage staff have been rostered in the baggage rooms, with additional passenger facilitation staff in the terminals to support travellers.
Some flights on Friday have also been cancelled, and passengers are urged to check with airlines.
TWU national secretary Michael Kaine, right, speaking at Sydney Airport. TWU
The strike action is taking place because enterprise agreement talks between labour hire company Certis Security Australia, its employees and union representatives remain ongoing.
The security workers are demanding more full-time jobs, fairer rostering, and no cuts to part-time hours.
Sydney Airport is not party to the negotiations.
Speaking beside striking workers on Friday, TWU national secretary Michael Kaine claimed Sydney Airport was making record profits of more than $580 million but refusing to invest in its workforce.
“It’s telling companies like Certis to cut wages and conditions or lose their contract,” he said.
Some affected workers held two extra jobs to help pay household bills, Kaine said.
“This is not a recipe for safety in our skies … Sydney Airport must step in.”
“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.”
A spokesperson for Certis said the company recognised the important role its staff played in aviation security and safety.
“On Thursday our employees received a new offer for their consideration. Certis remains committed to constructive bargaining towards a fair and sustainable agreement. We are disappointed that, with that offer on the table, the TWU has chosen instead to proceed with industrial action that affects the travelling public,” they said.
“Certis will continue to engage constructively with our workforce and is working closely with Sydney Airport on contingency arrangements. Our priority is to maintain aviation security, safety and regulatory compliance, and to minimise disruption to passengers.”