Millicent Spencer
Aviation firefighters will halt a planned strike which was due to take place this Friday after reaching an agreement with Airservices Australia.
Airservices Australia announced late Friday night that they had finalised an in-principle, 12 month enterprise agreement with the United Firefighters Union of Australia Aviation Branch (UFUAV). The UFUAV followed, announcing on Saturday that they would withdraw the proposed action.
Under the new agreement, aviation firefighters will receive a 4.9 per cent salary raise and Airservices Australia will increase the number of firefighters to alleviate the current shortages.
UFUAV Branch Secretary Wes Garrett this was an incredible win for Australia’s air travellers.
“Our campaign has always been about protecting the safety of Australia’s air travellers,” Mr Garrett said.
“Every time your loved ones and friends board an aircraft in Australia, they deserve fully staffed aviation firefighters to be there to protect them when they need it most.
“Critically, this agreement will eventually deliver aviation firefighter staffing in a manner that’s consistent with international aviation regulations.”
Airservices Australia chief executive Jason Harfield said he was pleased to have reached an agreement with the UFUAV.
“This new agreement provides certainty for our ARFFs workforce, airlines and the travelling public,” he said.
“We commend all involved in reaching this new agreement.”
However, Mr Garrett said staffing shortages were still of concern.
“While the in-principle agreement reached today provides a long-term solution to preventing understaffing in the future, the risk to air travellers remains until Airservices recruits the 100 aviation firefighters it cut from the service in October 2021,” he said.
“The United Firefighters Union – Aviation Branch will hold Airservices to account to ensure they remedy this aviation firefighter shortage as quickly as possible.”
Mr Garrett said that while all protected action was cancelled at this time, the agreement still needed to go to members for a ballot, which is expected shortly.
