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DHL workers at Brisbane Airport have taken another day of strike action over what the TWU describes as a “sub-standard” pay offer.
More than 50 workers, who sort and deliver incoming and outgoing international freight, walked off the job on Monday following a 24-hour strike at the end of August. According to the union, DHL has not offered a fair deal that accounts for cost of living and brings pay in line with interstate workers.
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“Strikes are always a last resort but these workers have had no other option but to take action again, with DHL refusing to offer them a fair agreement,” TWU organiser Chris Smith said, who noted that workers had recently been sent home without pay for wearing union badges.
“These workers have never once taken industrial action – now we’re here again because despite this company raking in more than $1 billion in Australia last year, it’s failed to come to the table with a decent offer.
“DHL’s disdain for its workforce is so significant that it sent them home recently just for wearing a badge. We fought this in the Fair Work Commission and won, and we’ll keep fighting for a fair agreement.
“It’s time DHL showed these workers the respect they deserve so they can keep doing their vital jobs and make a decent living in line with others interstate.”
The union has threatened to continue and ramp up industrial action if workers’ demands are not met.
“These guys and girls basically want the same as their counterparts in the competition are being paid within a kilometre of where we stand today, and what their counterparts in Sydney and Melbourne are being paid,” Smith said.
“They’ve all got families, young families. They want to keep up with the cost of living. Their wages in the last three years have not kept up with the cost of living.
“We are coming into the peak season for moving freight around the world, which DHL is a key player in. This industrial action will continue into the peak season – things like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, their customers will be affected if DHL don’t come to the party and give us a reasonable offer on the table.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for DHL said the company has “reached an impasse” with the union despite good-faith efforts to engage with workers.
“While we remain committed to fair and competitive compensation for our employees, the TWU’s current demands, amounting to a 12.5 per cent salary increase in Year One for Couriers and Operations Agents, do not reflect current economic conditions and present a significant challenge to the ongoing sustainability of our operations and long-term job security,” the spokesperson said.
“We are disappointed that the TWU has chosen to pursue protected industrial action. We remain open to continued dialogue with the TWU and are committed to achieving a fair and balanced outcome for all parties.
“We are hopeful that employees will soon have the opportunity to vote on the proposed agreement and benefit from the improved wage offer.
“The company will continue to operate and maintain continuity of service for our customers. We thank all our employees for their commitment to ensuring reliable, high-quality service for our customers across the country.”
