Industrial strikes are causing delays at Melbourne Airport this morning, with passengers advised to allow extra time while workers leave work.
“PSA: The protected industrial strike may cause minor delays at the T3/4 security checkpoint between 06:00 and 08:00 tomorrow (Tuesday 20 August),” the airport said in a statement on Monday.
‘We advise Virgin Australia Jetstar and Rex passengers travelling between these times to allow an additional 15 minutes for processing.’
The protected strike will last two weeks and involves security, baggage handling and logistics staff.
This comes after Melbourne Airport promised to press ahead with an underground rail link between the airport and the CBD despite objections from the state government.
After communication between the airport and the Victorian government broke down, a mediator was brought in to review the $10 billion project.
Neil Scales concluded that a rail link could be built using an existing surface corridor rather than an underground network, which would take longer to build.
Victorian Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson said the ombudsman’s report found an underground station would “cost taxpayers billions more”.
Strike action is causing delays at Melbourne Airport T3/4 security checkpoint this morning; passengers are advised to allow extra time (airport pictured)
The Transport Workers Union, which represents aircraft refuellers, baggage handlers, cargo handlers, caterers, drivers, cabin crew, pilots, cleaners, safety inspectors and workplace safety officers, has sided with the state government.
“With an independent mediator making clear recommendations, it is up to Melbourne Airport to get out of the way of the works being started and decide whether they want to be known forever as a greedy parking operator or an airport authority that will do the right thing for workers and travellers,” TWU Branch Secretary Mem Suleyman said in a statement in June.
‘This is a vital and long-awaited public transport network that will support the aviation workers that airports, airlines and the public rely on to get to work.
“The time has come for both parties to return to the table and engage in mature dialogue to move this project forward as soon as possible.”
This comes after American comedian Eric André accused Australian border officials of “racial bias against people of colour” after they searched him at Melbourne airport.
Andre, 41, went on a social media rant after he was pulled aside for a random search with sniffer dogs when he landed in Melbourne on Monday.
American comedian Eric André (pictured) has accused Australian border officials of “racial bias against people of colour” after they searched him at Melbourne airport on Monday.
The Florida-born artist said he was detained by staff at Terminal Two after a 25-hour flight from New York via Los Angeles.
“I was taken out of a queue and put in a special queue in Melbourne where I was thoroughly sniffed by a dog,” he explained in an Instagram post.
‘This is one of the many times I have been racially discriminated against at the airport.
‘This is a message to all Black, Brown and Indigenous people travelling through Melbourne today, especially if you are travelling through Qantas International Airport via Terminal 2, be careful. Black, Brown and Indigenous people are being searched.
The Eric Andre Show host has vowed to never return to Melbourne Airport alone and has asked anyone who books him in the city to also provide a police escort.
She asked her followers to send her the Melbourne Airport complaints line and the contact details of any Australian discrimination lawyers in response to the incident.
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