Up to 80 security screening staff employed by MSS Security in the Qantas domestic terminal are expected to stop work at 2pm for one hour over calls for a better pay deal.
If a deal can’t be struck with MSS today, United Voice assistant secretary Pat O’Donnell says union members could carry out strike action including shutting down some of the security lanes and explosives swabbing on every single passenger.
Mr O’Donnell said the meeting was likely to cause delays for passengers, who were advised to arrive earlier than usual for their flights.
However an emailed statement released by Qantas communications advisor Sarah Algar said MSS, the contractor which provides security screening services for Qantas and Jetstar, has “contingencies in place”.
“We don’t expect this will cause any disruptions to customers at the airport or flight delays,” the statement reads.
Ms Algar would not detail what these contingencies were and MSS did not respond to calls for comment but The West Australian understands MSS will use non-unionised workers to plug the gaps.
The United Voice union, which represents the security workers, claims the company’s Melbourne-based employees have recently been offered a far superior deal to those in WA.
“They recently offered higher increases to Melbourne, penalty rates and better rates for morning shifts,” Mr O’Donnell said.
The action comes during Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce’s visit to Perth.
Mr O’Donnell said it was a happy coincidence the airline chief would be in Perth.
“That was just a bit of luck,” he said.
“We’re quite happy that he is in town.
“Part of the problem with these contract companies is they make profits by paying the lowest amount of wages they can get away with but we think Qantas has to take some responsibility.”
Regardless, they workers will return to work after the meeting wearing shirts emblazoned with “Paid Less in the West”.
