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The Australian Services Union (ASU) is hailing a proposal by Qantas to offer direct employment to QantasLink airport customer service staff.
Around 150 employees at Sydney and Brisbane Airports, currently employed by Qantas subsidiaries Eastern and Sunstate, would be affected by the new arrangements, which the union says would bump their pay by around 30 per cent and “close a long-standing loophole” that lowered wages.
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“For years, our members have fought against a fragmented system that intentionally divided workers to keep wages low and conditions weak,” said ASU assistant national secretary Scott Cowen.
“Today, we have proven that the same work deserves the same pay, regardless of which entity’s logo is on the pay cheque. This is a fundamental reset for our members in Sydney and Brisbane who have been the backbone of QantasLink’s success.
“This isn’t just about a major pay rise, though that is a life-changing win during a cost-of-living crisis. This is about bringing jobs back inhouse, that have been outsourced for decades.
“This victory brings roster justice, job security and dignity to workers supporting Australians traveling across the country. By bringing these workers into the main Qantas family, we are securing better leave, improved staff travel, and redundancy protections that lead the industry.”
A Qantas spokesperson said the group’s priority is to “provide a consistent airport experience to all of our customers”.
“We know that the split nature of our Airport Customer Service teams creates confusion for customers, especially when things get busy or disrupted, with customers being sent back and forth between teams to get the help they need,” they said.
“That’s why we’re considering a decision to bring together our Qantas and QantasLink Airport Customer Service teams in Sydney and Brisbane to service both airlines.”
Cowen has welcomed the move as a “historic first step” to creating “one stronger, more unified airport workforce where every member is valued properly”.
“We have sent a clear message to the entire aviation sector: the ‘race to the bottom’ stops here,” he said.
“Our priority now is ensuring that every member is supported during this transition and that their skills and years of dedicated service are fully recognised under the main Qantas agreement. We will continue to fight until every loophole across the Qantas Group is closed for good.”
The proposal would align Sydney and Brisbane with QantasLink’s other ports using the same model, including Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Cairns, Townsville, Darwin and Alice Springs.
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