ACTU – Aerocare Disgrace – Corporate Disregard for Australian Workers

21 March 2017

Australians are rightly horrified at the extreme working conditions being imposed on Aerocare workers, who play a crucial role at our major airports to ensure the journeys of thousands of travellers are comfortable and smooth every day.

The revelations aired on ABC’s 7.30 program last night are shocking, and come as a reminder of the struggle faced by too many Australian workers to maintain good wages and decent working conditions.

Quotes attributable to ACTU President Ged Kearney:

• “We are seeing these flagrant abuses of workers’ rights with alarming regularity - it’s almost impossible now to avoid the conclusion that there are massive systematic failings with our workplace laws.”
• “When Australian workers are forced to sleep rough on the job site because their roster is so onerous and pay so meagre, it’s clear that there is an urgent need for change.
• “The air travel industry is booming – Aerocare itself reported a $13 million profit last year, while our four main airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth generated a staggering $1.8 billion in profit.”
• “There’s no shortage of money to pay workers decent wages and treat them fairly - so if employers aren’t going to do the right thing, then it’s time we change the law to make sure worker’s rights are sacrosanct.”