| Border Force strikes to cause disruptions at Australian international airports |
Disruptions are expected across Australia's international airports on Monday as up to 10,000 Border Force workers strike for 24 hours.
"Staff will strike for 24 hours at international airports, ports, mail and cargo centres to protest government threats to cut their pay," Community and Public Sector Union national secretary Nadine Flood said, adding that cuts to conditions would cause some workers to lose about $20,000.
The industrial action will affect international travellers as they pass through customs at airports across Australia and travellers have been warned to expect significant delays.
Clive Murray, the assistant commissioner of the ABF's Strategic Border Command said: "The department is making arrangements to minimise the impact on travellers at our international airports as much as possible."
But there is little that general airport staff can do to ease delays because customs is controlled by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
Melbourne Airport spokeswoman Anna Gillett advised anybody due to depart on an international flight on Monday to arrive as early as possible within the three-hour check-in period. The strike is also expected to create hold-ups for passengers arriving in Australia as they exit the airport.
"We will work with Border Force staff to mitigate delays and to assist but ultimately it is their their staff who are striking," Ms Gillett said.
"We are advising customers to expect delays," About 8 million international passengers pass through Melbourne Airport each year.
The strike will affect all of Australia's eight international airports, its maritime ports and mail centres.
In a statement, the department said it had contingency plans in place "to protect Australia's borders and minimise the impact on business operations".
"During protected industrial action, the health, safety and security of the public and our staff continues to be our priority," the department said.
"We will continue to negotiate in good faith with all bargaining representatives to reach an agreement which is within our means, and meets the parameters set by the Australian government public sector workplace bargaining policy."
With AAP, Rachel Olding
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