Flyers warned to prepare for Christmas strikes

Hand baggage only might be the best policy for Australians planning to fly this festive season.

Baggage handlers have overwhelmingly voted to take strike action which could potentially disrupt Christmas travel plans, news portal Travel Mole reports. 

About 1,000 Dnata employees in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia have voted for industrial action.

This is the second time workers have rejected Dnata’s pay offer, which is tied to job security and a change in rostering arrangements. 

“Wages for workers getting Qantas planes off the ground have been slashed and suppressed,” the Transport Workers Union (TWU) said.

Dnata provides baggage handling for airlines at airports in Australia and worldwide.

Workers are demanding better rostering and pay.

The union is due for further talks with Dnata.

“Dnata ground workers are, like many in aviation, struggling to stay in this industry under the current pay rates and conditions,” TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said.

“Dnata must come back to the table with a fair offer.”

But the contract company remains defiant. 

“Should an industrial action go ahead, our robust contingency plans will help us minimise any impact,” Dnata said.

Ground handlers at Dnata have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action after twice rejecting a pay deal.

The TWU says 98% of workers supported the protected industrial action ballot.

The union has previously accused the UAE-based airport services provider, whose customers include Qantas, Emirates, Etihad and Singapore Airlines, of “refusing decent improvements on rostering, job security and pay”.