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Potential travel disruptions at Cairns and Mackay Airports this week have been headed off as unions reached an in-principle agreement with employers.
The screening staff, employed through Trident Services, were demanding wage parity with staff at Brisbane, Gold Coast and Townsville Airports, saying the difference “has no justification”. The action was called off on Wednesday afternoon, with members set to vote on the offer in the near future.
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“Testing, qualifications, and responsibilities are the same in Mackay as in Brisbane, Sydney or any other airport. We deserve to be paid the same,” said Allans Maddison, security worker and union delegate at Mackay Airport, in a statement before the action was called off.
“Security at Mackay is just as important as security in Brisbane.”
The United Workers Union’s (UWU) property services director, Lyndal Ryan, said the union was appealing to North Queensland Airports, the owner of Cairns and Mackay Airports, to resolve the negotiating dispute with Trident.
“Trident Services and Cairns Airport can ensure families are able to return to Brisbane on time for the commencement of school by committing to pay their security screeners at rates equivalent to those of screeners at Brisbane,” said Ryan.
“These officers work diligently to keep our skies safe. Security screeners at Cairns and Mackay are just as important to keeping the travelling public safe as their counterparts at Brisbane, Townsville and the Gold Coast.
“Union members do not want to disrupt the travelling public. Ultimately, it is North Queensland Airports who can intervene and resolve this dispute, and we hope that they do this before stoppages commence.”
In a statement, NQA CEO Richard Barker said the company was aware of the planned industrial action and both airports are “committed to ensuring the safety and security of the travelling public”.
“We are aware of ongoing negotiations between the security screening provider and union representatives, however, have not been party to these discussions,” he said.
“Trident Services Security are responsible for reaching agreement with the union on the outstanding matters and we are hopeful the parties will reach an outcome without disrupting the travelling public.”
