Jetstar unions threaten to strike over festive period

Sunday, 08 Dec, 2019 0

Jetstar passengers could be in for some disruption this month and over the festive holiday season.

According to the Transport Workers Union, about 250 Jetstar ground workers and 650 pilots in the Australian Federation of Air Pilots union voted for protected industrial action.

It could affect flights in and out of Sydney, Melbourne, Avalon, Brisbane, Cairns and Adelaide.

The strike vote came after the airline rejected latest demands for improved pay and working conditions.

The TWU said there could be a series of short strikes leading up to Christmas if no agreement can be reached with Jetstar management.

"Security at our airports is under threat because of bad working conditions, chronic fatigue and deliberate understaffing," said TWU national secretary Michael Kaine.

The carrier says it has contingency plans in place to cover absences in ground handling positions but if pilots join a strike it will almost certainnly mean travel disruptions.

Jetstar will ‘do everything we can to protect the travel plans of our customers and minimise the disruption to their journeys.’

The pilots union said it will not call strikes for the days between Christmas and New Year but the company’s 3% pay rise offer is a long way short of what the union is seeking.

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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.

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