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A 24-hour ground handlers’ strike has been called off after dnata reached a deal with the Transport Workers’ Union.
Workers were due to take industrial action on Wednesday, but have won an in-principle agreement that will see an 11 per cent pay rise over two years as well as improvements to rostering and working conditions. Ninety-eight per cent of workers voted in favour of strikes in a ballot filed in October.
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The resolution of the standoff is similar to 2022, where ground handlers at dnata threatened strike action only to call it off after being given a 12.6 per cent pay rise.
TWU national secretary Michael Kaine congratulated the ground handlers, but said more work needs to be done to “tackle the structural issues across aviation” including poor job security, rostering issues, and low guaranteed hours.
“Dnata workers have succeeded, after months of negotiations, in winning an agreement that improves pay, rostering and work-life balance, and crucially ensures the company will now come with us to bring up the rest of the industry,” Kaine said.
“The last few years of airport chaos have showed us how critical it is to have skilled and experienced workers in these jobs. After Qantas’ illegal outsourcing of its ground handling operations they became casualised, insecure and low-paid—we now need to see those jobs improved right across the board, and dnata workers have gained critical ground here.
“We welcome dnata’s commitment to take the high road and pursue industry reform with us to bring up pay and conditions across the airport. If Qantas is serious about turning over a new leaf it will also realise it has a responsibility here, and work with us to build back decent, secure aviation jobs after spending a decade destroying them.”
A dnata spokesperson said the company welcomes the deal, which “reflects [its] commitment to ensuring our workforce receives highly competitive and equitable compensation”.
“Our employees are at the heart of our business and operations. We are proud to recognise their dedication and hard work with industry-leading salary increases that address cost-of-living pressures and deliver the highest average earnings in the Australian ground handling sector,” the spokesperson said.
“We will continue to work collaboratively with the union in the best interests of all, ensuring a positive and productive relationship for both our employees and our business.
“We remain committed to supporting our employees while further strengthening our position in Australia as a trusted provider of integrated ground handling solutions and an employer of choice in the aviation sector.”
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