‘There will be disruptions’: Airport chaos warning as more than 1000 workers walk off the job

Aussie travellers have been warned to brace for “disruptions” at airports across the country as more than 1000 workers walk off the job as part of a push for better conditions.

Hundreds of ground workers from dnata are expected to walk off the job on Friday after nearly a year of bargaining with the major airline for better pay and conditions.

The stoppages will last for four hours, with the action coming ahead of a busy travel period with the long weekend and much of the country returning to school next week.

Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) national secretary Michael Kaine warned passengers to expect disruptions on Friday morning.

“There will be disruptions today. You don’t take a thousand people out of ground services in Australia without there being disruptions,” Mr Kaine told Today.

Mr Kaine said workers were struggling with poor rostering and low guaranteed hours, and while disruptions were “regrettable”, there needed to be “better terms and conditions to maintain and attract workers”.

“And that’s what these workers are standing up for today,” he said.

Mr Kaine said there would be flight delays; however, he noted airlines were informed of the action earlier this week and had likely taken steps to minimise disruption.

Mr Kaine claimed having more than 1000 workers walk off the job highlighted “something seriously wrong in the company and something seriously wrong in the aviation sector” while speaking at a press conference on Friday morning.

He also said workers were “sorry” for the disruptions.

It is understood the action could affect up to five flights in Brisbane’s international terminal on Friday, with dnata only handling a small number of international carriers at Brisbane Airport.

Unloading of baggage could also be slower for those five flights.

A Brisbane Airport spokesperson said 75,000 people were expected to travel through the airport on Friday, with it tipped to be “business as usual for the vast majority” of travellers.

It’s understood Qantas contracts dnata for ground handling for its international operations at Sydney Airport, with the company looking also after several other airlines at the airport.

A Sydney Airport spokesperson said they were “ready to support our airline partners in mitigating the impact on their operations and encourage passengers travelling today to stay alert for messages from their airline”.

It’s also understood there had been no impact to Qantas international flights as a result of the action at Sydney Airport as of 7.45am.

A dnata Airport Operations spokeswoman said the company was “deeply saddened” TWU members had issued a new industrial action notice after withdrawing from an in-principle agreement reached in December.

The spokeswoman said the agreement, which included an 11 per cent pay rise over two years and an immediate 8.5 per cent increase for most employees, was negotiated in good faith with the union and was finalised a week before Christmas.

She said the TWU was asking for an 11 per cent immediate increase and a further 6 per cent increase within six months, which was “entirely out of step with our financial outlook and the economic realities we face” and not “realistic nor sustainable”.

“We urge the union to honour the principles of our previously announced agreement and focus on achieving a balanced outcome that avoids unnecessary disruption to our employees, customers and the broader industry,” the spokeswoman said.

“Our pay offer was carefully designed to provide meaningful salary increases that ease cost-of-living pressures while recognising the dedication and contributions of our valued employees. It also delivers the highest average earnings in the Australian ground handling industry.”

The spokeswoman said dnata would continue to “communicate directly with our employees” and “work closely with our airline partners to keep them informed and prepared for any developments.”