Sydney Airport staff to rally

Date: 31 July 2003

Staff at Sydney airport will rally at 12.30pm on Friday 1 August as part of their campaign against Max "the Axe" Moore-Wilton's job slashing proposals.

Unions fear CEO Sydney Airport Corporation Limited (SACL), Max Moore Wilton plans to cut 40% of staff - 160 workers from a workforce of approximately 400 - will drastically reduce safety and security at the airport.

As part of this plan, SACL is outsourcing the ground maintenance functions to Botany Bay Council from 1 September. Ground maintenance workers believe there are serious safety concerns for airport staff and the travelling public in relation to this outsourcing.

One of the workers whose job is on the line is extremely concerned that safety will be compromised when work is outsourced to people who have not been properly trained. "A lot of the work we do is specialised," he said.

"We have to be aware of where aircraft are going, listen to the radio and understand what the tower is saying. All of this takes training and we also have to take an exam to be licensed. Who knows what training they are going to give to the outsourced workers?

"Only experience and time teaches you how to be safe. It takes time to learn that and SACL are just jeopardising the safety of people," the worker said.

Larissa Andelman of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which is the major union at Sydney Airport, says that the proposed cutbacks will make the airport less safe. "Max Moore Wilton is running the airport as if it were a shopping mall. He is making swingeing cutbacks without due regard for the safety and security of staff and travellers," she said.

The CPSU and other unions at the airport have organised a rally for tomorrow (Friday 1 August) to protest these job cuts. It takes place at the old Ansett section of the domestic terminal from 12.30-1.30pm.

For comment, contact Larissa Andelman, Assistant Secretary, Communications Division, on (02) 8204 6971 or

For further information

Contact:	Larissa Andelman
Union:	CPSU - National Office
Phone:	0408 424 687
Email:	theworks@cpsu.org

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