NSW: Airport security guards vow to take further action

00-00-0000
NSW: Airport security guards vow to take further action

SYDNEY, April 16 AAP - Security workers at Sydney Airport have vowed to stage rollingstop-works as part of a national campaign for more pay.

The guards, contracted by SNP, are responsible for airport security checks and baggage screening.

The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU) said up to 100 guardsstopped work for an hour today as part of their push for more pay.

LHMU organiser Shannon Duffy said security workers were angry they were not valuedby their bosses and had vowed to take more action.

Security staff employed by SNP earn $13.04 an hour and say they are among the lowestpaid workers at the airport, even though their workloads have increased since September11.

"There will be further action tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that,"

Ms Duffy said.

The Sydney Airports Corporation Limited (SACL) said the action today had no impacton screening of bags at the international terminal.

Qantas said its domestic operations were also unaffected by the action.

SNP general manager Tom Roche said the action by the union was premature.

Mr Roche said the stop-work meetings were attended by only a handful of staff and hewas not concerned about threats of rolling stoppages.

"There's been no disruptions to the service," he said.

"There was more than sufficient staff to provide security screening and we believethat will be the case if the action is ongoing."

Mr Roche said the action was part of a national union campaign that started at MelbourneAirport over 12 months ago.

AAP nd/nf/wjf/sb

KEYWORD: SECURITY NIGHTLEAD