Customs strike on Thursday 27/10 if pay crisis talks fail

Customs staff at Sydney, Melbourne and Perth international airports will hold 24-hour stoppages on Thursday to protest lack of progress on a pay deal with the Federal Government.

Staff at all other Customs sites will hold a 4-hour stoppage from the beginning of their shifts, as industrial action escalates in response to a refusal from the Government to genuinely negotiate with Customs staff.

CPSU National Secretary Nadine Flood said “We would urge people collecting inbound international passengers on Thursday to factor possible delays into their plans.”

The industrial action will also impact on other Customs services including cargo inspections, Ports, International Mail centres, and Customs state and national offices. For the first time the Customs Marine Unit will take part in the industrial action – with a 2-hour stoppage on Thursday. This will not affect the Marine Unit’s ability to cope with situations where life is in peril at sea.

Customs management and CPSU delegates will sit down for crisis talks tomorrow aimed at resolving the bargaining impasse.

Ms Flood said that while negotiating a pay deal was still the CPSU’s preferred option, the refusal of the Federal Government to allow Customs freedom to negotiate had led to the stalemate.

“Previous talks have broken-down due to the intransigence of the Government, but we’ll keep trying so that this can be resolved with as little inconvenience to passengers as possible,” Ms Flood said.

“Our members only take industrial action as a last resort but they are becoming very frustrated by what they see as pointless delays and third party interference.

“If Customs put forward a reasonable deal that Government is prepared to support, this dispute will be over. But if the Government continue to overturn potential solutions the action will continue to escalate.

“Customs officers have difficult, dangerous and dirty jobs. They deserve a pay rise that keeps up with the cost of living rather than the 3% a year the Government is trying to impose.

“We have recently made 14 new agreements including in the Department of Immigration and the Australian Bureau of Statistics that deliver pay raises which keep up with the cost of living.”

“This shows it is possible to reach agreements that staff are happy with. It is up to the Federal Government and Special Minister of State Gary Gray to show leadership and end this impasse.

“We understand the Government’s focus on balancing the Federal budget but their current approach is putting the morale and capacity of the public service at risk.

“We are already seeing the damage done by the increased efficiency dividend to frontline services.  Not paying a fair wage to public servants would only make it harder for the public service to keep experienced and dedicated staff.”

For comment Nadine Flood 0407 731 330 or Michael Tull 0418 557 380.

Timetable for industrial action Thursday 27 October

City	Times
Perth International Airport	24 hr stoppages from 12 midnight Wednesday 26 October
Sydney International Airport	24 hr stoppages from 12 midnight Wednesday 26 October
Melbourne International Airport	24 hr stoppages from 12 midnight Wednesday 26 October
Brisbane International Airport	2 hour stoppages from 10.15am, 12 midday, 8pm, 9:45pm on Thursday 27th October
Gold Coast International Airport	Please contact Jess Nelson on 0459 168 514 on Tuesday for details
Darwin International Airport	4 hour stoppages from 2:30am, 9am and 4pm on Thursday 27th October
Cairns International Airport	Please contact Jess Nelson on 0459 168 514 on Tuesday for details
Adelaide International Airport	2 hour stoppages from 11:45am, 12:40pm, 2:55pm, 3:55pm on Thursday 27th October