Aviation firefighters at Launceston Airport may go on strike in the coming weeks, potentially disrupting Easter travel plans for many.
The United Firefighters Union of Australia is demanding additional staffing due to the surge in flights and passenger numbers at the airport.
Just last week, it was confirmed that Launceston Airport experienced its busiest year on record, with over 1.3 million passengers.
The union claims staffing shortages are resulting in excessive overtime, difficulties in taking leave and a shortage of relief staff.
Union members are advocating for minimum staffing requirements to be included in contracts and are preparing to vote on potential industrial action, which could include work stoppages and bans on overtime.
In a statement last month, the union highlighted a critical shortage of aviation firefighters at Launceston Airport, noting instances where large aircraft arrived and departed without firefighters on duty.
Airservices Australia has previously stated that 23 full-time aviation rescue firefighters are employed at Launceston Airport, working six days a week from 5:55am to 11pm and on Saturdays from 5:55am to 9:40pm.
“Airlines may choose to operate outside these published operational hours or fly into an airport where an ARFF service is not provided,” they said last month.
“We have not withdrawn after-hours services at Launceston Airport and continue to offer out-of-operating hours ARFF services to late aircraft arrivals on an overtime basis.”
Airservices is yet to comment on the latest developments to the situation.
