Need more evidence that the rules are broken and badly lop-sided against workers?
Aviation services company Aerocare put its latest sub-standard agreement offer to a vote this week that was neither secret or transparent – it was conducted on the company’s internal online system and employees were sent a message back confirming how they had voted!!! The agreement, among other shoddy features, will leave some workers at least $8.50 per hour worse off. Enough is well and truly enough.
The TWU WILL be supporting Aerocare workers by challenging this agreement. In the meantime, TWU (VIC/TAS Branch) Secretary John Berger said all workers can become agents of change by getting to the Change The Rules Rally on 9 May at Trades Hall. Join the hundreds of TWU members among the thousands.
A TWU analysis has found that Aerocare offering some workers up to a minimum of $8.50 per hour worse off will result in millions of dollars in wage theft each year.
The new agreement, like previous Aerocare’s agreements, also includes:
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No more than 60 hours guaranteed a month (no weekly guarantee)
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Below award rates for weekends, Good Friday, Christmas, etc
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Split shifts, which are precluded under the award
“Aerocare staff deserve better than this shoddy agreement. Over $680 million changed hands over the sale of Aerocare to Swissport this year and yet the company seeks to rob from among the lowest paid airport workers. Aerocare is trying to game the system and wealthy airports and airlines are reaping the benefits of this wage theft,” said TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon.
Click the link to see the message Aerocare sent to workers after they voted on the proposed agreement this week: bit.ly/Aerocare_vote
The Fair Work Commission rejected a 2017 Aerocare agreement last August, because of its low rates, split shifts and because casual employees were excluded from voting.
“Aerocare’s business model is about keeping its staff intimidated and desperate for hours at work. But this model does not just affect staff, it is impacting on safety and security at our airports,” Tony said.
Aerocare last year was exposed after footage showed staff were forced to sleep at airports. Since then more information has emerged including:
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High injury rates among staff. At Sydney International Airport there were 132 injury incidents among a staff of 326 over a one-year period.
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Security incidents, including passengers at Perth airport allowed airside to collect their baggage after a baggage handler was left alone to unload an entire aircraft
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Staff being forced back to work while still injured
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Aerocare managers accompanying injured staff into doctors’ surgeries during appointments
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Broken and faulty equipment in use around aircraft and passengers