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Aviation firefighters are voting today on strike action that threatens to disrupt the Easter-long travel plans for tens of thousands of Australians and overseas visitors.
If approved by members of the United Firefighters Union of Australia (UFUA) aviation branch, the industrial action could start at airports across the country on Thursday, March 28, just before the start of the Easter long weekend.
Airlines would be unable to fly if the aviation firefighters strike on Good Friday, one of the busiest days of the year.
A potential strike would involve "withdrawal of nation-wide rescue and firefighting services for up to three hours and full work stoppages", the union said.
The threat of industrial action comes amid union concerns about fatigue and short staffing problems.
It claims that Airservices Australia, which is responsible for aviation firefighting and rescue services at airports, has refused to agree to minimum staffing requirements under aviation safety laws.
Wes Garrett, the UFUA's aviation branch secretary, said international and domestic flights have been taking off and landing without the required number of firefighters and trucks on hand.
"Not only is the situation a brazen breach of international aviation safety laws, but it also puts air travellers at significant risk. When aviation firefighters are understaffed, their capacity to rescue passengers from burning aircraft is significantly reduced," he said.
If union members vote to back the action, Airservices Australia will be required to provide seven days' notice that fire and rescue services will be unavailable at the country's 27 largest airports.
Airlines will have seven days' notice to reschedule or cancel flights during these periods, said Garrett.
A spokesperson for Airservices Australia said there were sufficient aviation firefighters to meet operational requirements, and it will work with airports and airlines to maintain safe operations.
Airservices Australia also said that the firefighters are also seeking a 20 per cent pay rise as part of enterprise agreement talks, which it claimed would cost an additional $128 million.
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"As part of negotiations which commenced in September, Airservices has offered a $32 million pay rise comprising 11.2 per cent over three years in line with the Australian Public Service Commission's recent pay decision, as well as the retention of all current conditions," the spokesperson said.
"As an industry-funded organisation, any increase in Airservices' operating costs is ultimately passed on to passengers in the form of higher airfares."
"Airservices will take all available steps to minimise disruptions to flights as a result of industrial action, and will work with airlines and airports to maintain safe operations," the spokesperson said.