TWU members protest Swissport’s ‘dangerously low standards’

“We are here in the nation’s capital to send a message to companies like Swissport: enough is enough. Stop risking the lives of workers and ensure they have decent, fair jobs,” said TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine.

“Aviation workers across the industry are literally risking life and limb when they turn up for work. These sorts of standards have been enabled by clients like Qantas, allowing Swissport to employ workers at rock bottom pay and conditions.

“Swissport is just the tip of the iceberg. All across the industry, workers are under deadly pressures, while the airports and airlines are raking in billions in record profits.

“The time is now to return to an aviation industry with skilled and experienced workers, that offers lifelong careers to be proud of, and better standards for passengers.”

The TWU has warned that thousands of workers may take protected industrial action in July if airlines and airports “refuse to lift standards in their supply chains at companies like Swissport”.

“Workers are calling on airlines and airports to properly fund fair standards in aviation at companies like Swissport and return good jobs to the sector, after a decade of pay and conditions reaching rock bottom under Alan Joyce’s reign at Qantas,” the union said.

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“The protest takes place as TWU members and officials meet for the union’s annual National Council in Canberra, where they will focus on their plan to lift standards across road transport and aviation for workers, and community.”

The TWU held similar protests at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide Airports in March, saying “safety blitzes” had revealed issues with damaged equipment, unsafe staffing levels, heat injuries, and “intrusive worker surveillance”.

According to the union, Swissport has a “history of alarming safety issues impacting both on workers and the public”, and is not allowing entry for legally sanctioned safety inspections at Perth Airport.

“Last year it was revealed some ports are receiving up to 400 safety reports a month at Swissport,” the TWU said at the time.

“The TWU has previously revealed other safety breaches at Swissport impacting on the public, from firearms being left on baggage carousels, passenger stairs removed from planes, and plane cargo doors left open.”

Swissport customers in Australia and New Zealand include Batik Air, Vietjet and LATAM. The company met with controversy when it won the bid for Qantas’ outsourced ground handling services in 2020, a decision which saw Qantas successfully sued in the High Court for the illegal sacking of around 1,700 ground workers.