Ground crew could walk off the job by mid-November, with cabin crew and pilots not far behind them as pay talks sour at Virgin Australia.
Virgin Australia ground staff could walk off the job as talks over pay and conditions stall, and the Transport Workers Union claims the airline is leaving baggage handlers in “pay poverty”.
Virgin’s current offer – which workers have rejected – is between 3 per cent and 12.8 per cent higher in year one, followed by 3 per cent increases in years two and three. The TWU said ground workers and cabin crew were experiencing “pay poverty” and have had to secure second jobs to pay home loans and rent as interest rates soar.
Cabin crew are also said to be considering asking Fair Work for a protected action ballot, given concerns about wages, rostering and fatigue.