‘Unfair and reckless’: Sydney Airport security staff offered $1000 bonus
Security staff at Sydney Airport have been promised $1000 bonuses if they work every shift in the next two weeks, in a scheme the workers' union says is reckless and unfair.
Sydney Airport is having its busiest day in more than two years and passengers are again queuing outside on Thursday as a critical staff shortage plagues the airport. Certis Group, the Singaporean company contracted to run security at the airport, is scrambling to fill shifts to meet the demand.
A queue at Sydney Airport’s T2 terminal on Thursday morning.Credit:Renee Nowytarger
More than 82,000 passengers are expected to move through the domestic terminals on Thursday ahead of the Easter long weekend. Another 79,000 passengers are expected on Friday.
Security staff have now been offered a $1000 “incentive payment” if they work every rostered shift between April 14 and 26. However, missing one shift in that 13-day period, even because of sickness, means the worker forfeits the bonus.
“We have worked with Sydney Airport to provide a 'thank you' payment in recognition of your efforts and commitment to helping our passengers during this difficult period,” human resources manager Vicky Kotkiewicz wrote in an email to staff.
“Eligible Certis employees who work all of the rostered Sydney Airport shifts during the period [of] Thursday 14 April to Tuesday 26 April inclusive, will receive a payment of $1000 and will be made directly via Certis payroll as gross salary.
“If you are absent from a rostered shift during this period, excluding rostered absences, then you will not be eligible for the payment.”
The United Workers Union, which represents airport security personnel, described the qualifying process for the payments as “grossly unfair and reckless”.
“[The offer] unfairly punishes those who are sick through no fault of their own,” union coordinator Damien Davie wrote in a letter to Certis management.
“It encourages workers to come to work when they are unwell, potentially increasing the spread of COVID. [And] undue pressure may be being applied to workers who have genuine caring arrangements.”
Mr Davie is seeking assurance that any workers who cannot attend work due to illness still receive the $1000 incentive payment.
The Herald asked Certis whether the company would pay the $1000 if the reason for the employee’s absence was illness. A spokeswoman declined to answer and said Certis “will not be providing any further statements”.
A Sydney Airport spokesman declined to answer whether the airport is contributing to the incentive payments.
“We’ve been working closely with Certis on a range of initiatives to thank staff for all their efforts during an incredibly busy period,” the spokesman said.
Certis security staff are paid between $23.27 and $26.57 an hour, which the union says is less than their counterparts receive for identical roles at Melbourne and Brisbane airports.
There are 120 corporate staff from the airport helping manage the queues and ensuring passengers don’t miss flights. Waiting passengers are being offered bottles of water, free coffee vouchers and Easter eggs.
On Saturday, the state government added essential air transportation staff to the list of critical workers to assist with the delay. Airport workers are now exempt from rules requiring self-isolation for seven days if they are a household contact of a COVID-19 patient.
Sydney Airport said Certis’ workforce is 30 per cent below pre-COVID levels and the contractor has been recruiting since December for more than 100 security screening roles.
Fifty new staff are completing their two-month accreditation but are not yet ready to work.
Sydney Airport chief executive Geoff Culbert: “While [Certis] are getting people in the door, it is taking longer than we had hoped due to the incredibly tight labour market. The roles that are being recruited are skilled, specialist roles and we won’t compromise on safety and security.”
With Sarah Keoghan
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