Jetstar workers will escalate industrial action from Friday, with union members planning one-hour stoppages at major airports and refusing to carry out a range of duties over a long-running pay dispute.
The Australian Services Union (ASU) said its Jetstar members had voted to increase industrial action from Friday, 2 October, coinciding with the NRL Grand Final weekend and school holiday travel period.
The escalation follows months of negotiations between the union and airline, with the ASU arguing Jetstar has failed to put forward a pay offer that meaningfully increases workers’ wages.
From Friday, participating workers will stop carrying out a range of what the union describes as non-essential duties, including routine passenger announcements and calls, as well as disruption and cancellation management tasks.
Members will also hold one-hour stop-work actions at major airports around Australia.
In another unusual form of industrial action, ASU members will process eligible transactions – including excess baggage charges, seat change fees, late fees and some other sales-related transactions – at $0.
ASU Assistant National Secretary Scott Cowen said workers did not want to take industrial action but believed negotiations had left them with little alternative.
“Our members help people get where they need to go. They’re the reason people can travel Jetstar this Grand Final weekend and they’re connecting friends and family across the country and beyond during school holidays,” Cowen said.
“That work does not stop being hard just because a company decides it is not worth paying properly for.”
Cowen said the dispute was also about working conditions, claiming Jetstar had failed to provide sufficient additional protections for staff working during extreme weather.
“Our members don’t want to take action, but they’re left with no other choice,” he said.
“They’re taking action because during a cost-of-living crisis, during extreme weather conditions, the airline has failed to support workers with extra weather protections or a pay offer that responds to this crisis properly.”
The ASU said Jetstar had proposed a 2.1 per cent pay increase, which Cowen argued did not reflect the airline’s financial performance.
“Jetstar’s domestic earnings are up 15 per cent this year on record passenger numbers, and Qantas Group is turning a profit. A 2.1 per cent pay rise for the people who made that possible is not what a fair share looks like,” he said.
Jetstar disputed the union’s characterisation of its offer and said it did not expect the industrial action to disrupt customers’ flights.
“We have strong contingency plans in place and don’t expect there will be any impact to customers’ flights as a result of industrial action,” a Jetstar spokesperson told Travel Weekly.
“We will continue to keep customers updated.
“It is very disappointing the ASU has chosen to pursue further industrial action despite Jetstar putting forward a comprehensive and fair offer, including meaningful pay increases, improved penalties and allowances, and greater rostering flexibility.
“This offer delivers strong outcomes for our people while ensuring we can continue to invest in our fleet, grow our network and keep fares low, at a time when fuel costs continue to put pressure on the aviation industry.”
Cowen said the union remained prepared to escalate its action if an agreement could not be reached.
“Jetstar has the money and the record year to make this right. Every day it chooses not to is a day our members decide how much further they are prepared to take this.”
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