KEY POINTS:
SYDNEY - Qantas staff at Sydney Airport have threatened to walk out in the middle of the busy holiday season over a workplace safety dispute.
The Transport Workers Union says the airline's baggage and ramp staff are being forced to work in a dangerous environment and are too scared of management to complain, News Limited newspapers reported today.
The union says industrial action against the airline is "inevitable" and could occur as early as January, impacting on the holiday travel plans of thousands of people.
In March, Qantas staff lodged a formal dispute report with the NSW Industrial Commission over working conditions. Now the airline's 500 baggage and ramp workers are threatening to walk out if Qantas does not fix the problems.
"We have continued to take it up with Qantas, but we've actually had an increase of work intensification in response," Transport Workers Union spokesman Tony Sheldon told News Limited.
Mr Sheldon said the dispute focused on staff cuts across the department and the reduction of working teams from six people to five.
He said the smaller teams increased staff workload and the chance of serious injury.
"There have been a whole range of injuries to workers' legs, arms and backs.
"There was one horrendous example when they had to administer morphine to a man to get him out of the plane's hold.
"The company is aware of this, yet it's still reducing the workforce, putting people's life and limb at risk."
Mr Sheldon said workers were afraid to report some injuries because they feared they would be moved to inferior jobs.
Qantas executive general manager, services, Curtis Davies, said he was unaware of the complaint to the Industrial Relations Commission, but said he would be disappointed if industrial action was taken.
- AAP
