Chaos looms over airports during busy Easter period as union-aligned aviation firefighters threaten industrial action

Aviation firefighters are threatening to walk off the job at airports across the country over the Easter long weekend, jeopardising the travel plans of thousands of domestic and international holidaymakers. On Thursday, Airservices Australia staff aligned with the United Firefighters Union of Australia’s Aviation Branch (UFUAV) are set to vote on whether to pursue industrial action over the peak holiday period as a wage dispute comes to a head. The two parties have been in negotiations relating to a demanded pay rise of 20% over three years since September, in the face of what the union claims are critical understaffing issues. The UFUAV says firefighters have been burdened and fatigued at work due to regularly being short staffed and their ability to meet their safety obligations has been hampered as a result. Airservices has rejected the claims, insisting it has maintained minimum staffing requirements and already negotiated in good faith with staff by offering them a 11.2% wage increase amounting to $32m, in line with a new blanket deal set out by the Australian Public Service Commission. Airservices has rejected the claims, insisting it has maintained minimum staffing requirements and already negotiated in good faith with staff by offering them a 11.2% wage increase amounting to $32m, in line with a new blanket deal set out by the Australian Public Service Commission.<br/>