Freight workers win big with ‘same job, same pay’

The Australian Services Union (ASU) has secured a deal for Australian Air Express workers to earn almost $7,000 more a year.

Freight workers will be almost $7,000 a year better off thanks to a deal struck by the ASU, which would see the wages of Australian Air Express workers lifted to match those of their Qantas Freight counterparts.

ASU national secretary Emeline Gaske claims the deal is yet another win for the union’s “same job, same pay” campaign.

“Workers at Australian Air Express, a wholly owned Qantas subsidiary, work alongside their colleagues at Qantas Freight doing identical work every day. Yet those working for Australia Air Express have been receiving significantly lower wages than their counterparts at Qantas,” said Gaske.

“For far too long, employment loopholes like these have been exploited by unscrupulous employers to short-change workers, and it’s time these dodgy arrangements ended. That’s why we’re pleased to announce that Australian Air Express freight workers will now be paid in line with freight workers employed by Qantas, delivering them a pay boost of almost $7,000 per year.

“This is yet another win for the ASU’s ‘same job, same pay’ campaign and a win for all workers who are being underpaid through employment loopholes.”

Steve, an Australian Air Express freight worker, was stoked with the news that the deal was completed, stating he always found it “unfair” to be paid less compared to his counterparts who were doing the same job.

“We work closely with Qantas Freight workers who are doing the same job. We always thought it unfair to be paid less, even when we were still technically working for a Qantas-owned company,” he said.

“We were highly disappointed when we found out that the arrangement, which allowed the Qantas-owned Australian Air Express to pay us less for doing the same jobs, was completely legal under the law at the time. I’m really proud that my colleagues and I, as ASU members, worked together to make this happen.”

Air freight work is a challenging job, but Gaske explained how essential it is to the Australian economy, noting the wide variety of freight that is dealt with on a daily basis, paired with the stringent deadlines that must be abided by.

“Air freight workers are under constant pressure to meet strict deadlines in the loading and unloading of freight from aircraft,” said Gaske.

“These are essential workers who keep our air freight and postal system running smoothly. They ensure that our presents are delivered on time at Christmas, that our pets travel safely, and that urgent organ donations get to patients on time.

“They deserve to be treated with respect and paid fairly, and that’s what we’ve achieved.”