Qantas workers at Sydney Airport struck for four hours on March 30. Workers held a mass delegates' meeting to respond to plans to outsource jobs at Sydney, Launceston and Hobart airports. Baggage handlers, ramp, fleet and catering staff at airports in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth also took industrial action.
More than 300 workers blockaded the international terminal at Sydney Airport, stopping traffic in a street outside while they were addressed by the Transport Workers Union federal secretary, Tony Sheldon. Sheldon criticised Qantas for putting profits before jobs and security.
The Qantas subsidiary Jetstar has announced plans to outsource more than 100 baggage-handling and check-in jobs.
By using labour-hire security and baggage handlers, the company hopes to cut costs. More than 100 workers will face economic uncertainty in this time of financial crisis.
Workers are also concerned that security will be compromised, particularly in light of the recent bashing death of a Hells Angel bikie at the airport's domestic terminal.
The new workers will apparently be merely given temporary access passes rather than full security screening by ASIO.
According to Sheldon, despite the current economic crisis, some sections of Qantas and its subsidiaries have experienced up to 30% passenger growth this year.
Qantas went to the Industrial Relations Commission to try to force the workers back to work and to have their pay docked for four hours.