Border Force airport strikes to intensify
Expect travel delays as union workers plan a week of airport strikes in a bid to end a three-year long dispute.
Members of the Australian Border Force (ABF) will intensify industrial action, under the auspices of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), announcing a week's worth of stoppages across the country.
The union said the strikes would be the "most intense and widespread" yet, with CPSU members planning 30-minute strikes all day, every day between 26 September and 2 October 2016.
The upcoming action is part of a three-year long pay dispute between the union and the government and follows similar but shorter planned stoppages in August and at the beginning of September.
The stoppages will occur at international airports, cruise ship terminals, cargo facilities and in other areas of immigration and border protection.
CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood expects multiple short strikes to cause "significant disruption and delays for international air passengers".
"This will be strike action on a major scale, an unprecedented escalation to make Government finally do something to end this 1000-day dispute," she said.
This round of action is on a larger scale than any before but numerous exemptions remain in place to ensure the safety and security of the public.
Further strikes are possible if a resolution is not reached. However, the government can attempt to have the industrial action suspended by the Fair Work Commission.
The CPSU said that if this occurs it will seek an independent third-party to arbitrate an outcome.
If you're concerned about potential delays or are wondering how these strikes may affect your travel plans, visit the Department of Immigration and Border Protection's website, as well as its Facebook and Twitter feeds for regular updates.
Want travel insurance that covers strikes? Find out when and which Australian insurers will and won't pay claims for flight delays due to strike action.
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