Airport firefighters could go on strike during the peak of the upcoming holiday season due to an ongoing wage dispute.
Staff from Airservices , a government agency that runs air traffic control and aviation fire fighting, who are part of the United Firefighters Union of ‘s Aviation Branch (UFUAV), will vote on industrial action on Thursday.
The union has been demanding a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for Airservices staff since September.
UFUAV claim staff deserve a raise as workers have suffered fatigue due to critical understaffing issues in the company.
Airservices rejects UFUAV claims and insists it has maintained the minimum staffing requirement already negotiated with workers.
Firefighters from Airservices could go on strike over the Easter holidays, causing significant flight disruptions
The company also offered workers an 11.2 per cent wage increase, worth $32million.
In an open letter to Airservices, seen by Sky News, UFUAV Secretary Wesley Garrett accused the company of endangering passengers’ lives.
‘Over the past three years, aviation firefighters have suffered real wage losses while having increased demands made of them following cuts to the workforce,’ he said.
‘We believe our members’ efforts to keep airports operational through this difficult period must be recognised.
‘It is so critical aviation firefighting services are fully staffed, properly equipped and ready to respond at a moment’s notice; we’re here to protect the passengers and crew of aircraft that carry vast amounts of fuel and up to 500 passengers.’
Airservices claim the unions’ demands would cost an additional $128million, which would then force it to increase operational costs and drive higher airfare prices.
If union members vote to go through with the strikes, Airservices will need to give airlines seven days’ notice before firefighters can walk off the job.
The United Firefighters Union of ‘s Aviation Branch is locked in wage negotiation deals with Airservices
The exact dates of the proposed action is not known.
The company said it would ‘take all available steps to minimise disruptions to flights’.
Airservices’ Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting is ‘s only national fire service and responds to an average of 7,000 aircraft and assistance requests every year.
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