Travellers across the east coast have been warned to brace for “disruptions” as more than 1000 ground workers walk off the job.
Workers hired by aviation services company Dnata walked off the job Friday morning for four hours across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airports over pay and conditions disputes.
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In Sydney, travellers on Qantas International flights will be most affected and have been urged to stay informed about potential disruptions.
Other major airlines, including Emirates, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Delta, are also expected to be impacted.
“We are 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,” a spokeswoman said.
In Brisbane, five flights are expected to be impacted, and passengers could expect the unloading of baggage to be slower.
The airport believed it would be “business as usual” for all other travellers.
Speaking to Today, Transport Workers Union Michael Kaine said the industrial action was a “last resort”.
“These workers are saying enough is enough. They want to make sure they’ve got a fair shake for themselves and their families,” he said.
“They are owed improvements in their pay and conditions from June last year, and they’ve said enough is enough, and they’ve taken the very brave step of taking industrial action to get a better deal for themselves and their families.”