Aviation firefighters threaten strikes over Easter

Industrial action threatened by Australia’s aviation firefighters could disrupt air travel over Easter.

Members of the United Firefighters Union Aviation Branch will vote today on a range of protected industrial actions, several of which hold the potential to affect flight schedules across Australia’s airports.

If aviation firefighters approve the actions, work stoppages could begin as soon as Thursday March 28.

The union alleges that Airservices Australia, which provides air traffic control and airport fire services has refused to act over short staffing and fatigue.

However Airservices suggests the issue is more about pay.

“Airservices Australia is currently in enterprise agreement negotiations with our Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting service (ARFF) employees and their representatives, the United Firefighters Union of Australia Aviation Branch (UFUAV).

“As part of negotiations, which started in September, Airservices has offered a thirty-two million dollar pay rise comprising 11.2 per cent over three years in line with the Australian Public Service Commission’s recent pay decision, as well as the retention of all current conditions.

“The UFUAV is now planning to hold a ballot of members seeking approval for a campaign of industrial action in support of a number of claims that would cost an additional $128 million, including a pay increase of twenty per cent.”

Some of the actions proposed include:

• three-hour windows where Aviation Rescue Firefighting Services (ARFFS) will be unavailable to

respond to aircraft emergency incidents;

• work stoppages varying in duration from four hours to full shifts; and

• bans on overtime.

United Firefighters Union Aviation Branch secretary Wes Garrett claims that domestic and international flights are taking off and landing without the required number of aviation firefighters and trucks to protect that aircraft's size and passenger capacity.

“To cover staff shortages, current aviation firefighters are working unsustainable amounts of overtime to fill the gaps, resulting in massive fatigue. This is unsafe for firefighters and the air travellers they seek to protect,” Mr Garrett said.

“To address this significant safety problem, aviation firefighters are seeking to add minimum staffing clauses to their employment agreement that would guarantee sufficient numbers of firefighters and trucks on duty to protect air travellers as per international aviation safety law.”

He added that airlines would be given a sufficient period of notice to reschedule flights.

“If aviation firefighters support industrial action and the United Firefighters Union chooses to

proceed with stoppages, airlines will have seven days’ notice to reschedule or cancel flights during

these periods,” Mr Garrett said.

Airservices said it will take all available steps to minimise disruptions to flights as a result of industrial action, and will work with airlines and airports to maintain safe operations.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulates Airservices’ provision of Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting services for all international and domestic flights.

“We have sufficient ARFF services staff to meet our operational requirements, and we are continuing to recruit to ensure that service is maintained in the future,” CASA said.