Sydney Airport security workers strike as passengers face possible screening delays

Sydney Airport security workers began strike action on Friday, 16 October, with screening at its domestic and international terminals potentially affected. The airport urged passengers to allow extra time and check with their airlines, while Air New Zealand said it had contingency plans for its customers.

Nine and 7NEWS reported a morning strike period from 6am to 10am Sydney time and a second period scheduled for 5pm to 9pm. NZ Herald gave a shorter evening window that converts to 5pm to 7pm Sydney time, leaving the planned end time unclear.

Early waits at Sydney Airport terminals

At about 8am, 7NEWS reported no major delays. The airport’s listed security waits were five minutes at international Terminal 1 and domestic Terminal 2, and 15 minutes at domestic Terminal 3. NZ Herald later reported that the airport website listed international security waits of under five minutes at 10am New Zealand time, or 8am in Sydney.

Nine reported that some Friday flights had been cancelled, without identifying them or linking the cancellations to the strike. Air New Zealand’s chief operations officer told NZ Herald that the airline had seen no extra queues or flight cancellations out of Sydney as of that report. The accounts do not establish whether they refer to the same flights or period.

What the Certis Security dispute is about

The dispute is between Certis Security Australia, its employees and union representatives, Nine reported. Sydney Airport is not a party to those negotiations. Workers are seeking more full-time jobs, fairer rosters and protection against cuts to part-time hours, according to Nine; 7NEWS also reported a union demand for job security.

The Transport Workers’ Union alleged that airport cost-cutting had harmed workers’ conditions. Nine attributed to union national secretary Michael Kaine a claim that Sydney Airport was making more than A$580 million in record profits; 7NEWS reported the union’s figure as A$584.3 million for the last financial year. Those figures are the union’s claims.

Certis said employees received a new offer on Thursday and that it was disappointed the union proceeded with industrial action while the offer was available for consideration.