Melbourne baggage screeners locked out

Airline Industry Information, Sept 25, 2000

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Baggage screeners at Australia`s Melbourne airport have been involved in a pay dispute with their employer, Chubb, since 19 September that has resulted in the workers being locked out.

Chubb, a security company, issued the screeners` lock-out notices after the 25 workers began a series of work stoppages on 19 September. The baggage screeners have maintained a picket at the airport and on 25 September indicated that they hoped Chubb would make a last minute pay offer that would end the dispute according to AAP.

The picket being maintained by the workers is restricted to gate 35 today (25 September), resulting in shorter delays at the airport than those experienced on 23 September when the picket took place across 20 gates. Scores of flights were delayed by up to 3 1/2 hours due to the picketing and a refusal by fuel and catering trucks to cross the lines.

A meeting of the Chubb employees was held on 24 September but no decision about returning to work was made. A spokesperson for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union, which represents the baggage screeners, stated that they have let Chubb know of the meeting and given the company time to respond.

Chubb indicated on 23 September that it had made an offer to increase the workers` take-home pay, but that it had not offered to increase the employees` basic rate.

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