Airport workers across Australia are set to rally for extended JobKeeper payments as their union calls for a national virus-recovery plan for the stricken airline industry.
Protesters will gather at Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide airports and outside key ministerial offices in Melbourne and Perth on Thursday.
They will demand the federal government continue JobKeeper payments beyond the planned September cut-off, and to fix a loophole preventing thousands of workers at foreign-owned companies from accessing the subsidy.
A survey of airport workers released by the Transport Workers Union shows 70 per cent of aviation workers have been stood down from their jobs with almost 40 per cent stating they have no income.
Over 1,000 cabin crew, airline caterers, cleaners, baggage handlers, ramp workers, security officials, refuellers and drivers responded to the survey, with almost 30 per cent stating they have had to access their superannuation to get by.
Almost half of respondents are worried they won’t be able to support their families throughout the crisis while 20 per cent say they are worried they will lose their house.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine says the survey should serve as a call to action for the Federal Government.
National Secretary of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Michael Kaine. Source: AAP
"Workers have been stood down for several months, many have been shut out of Jobkeeper Payment and have no income at all," Mr Kaine said.
"They and their families are struggling as they have been living off annual leave and savings, which are now gone. Virgin is in voluntary administration and Qantas is quickly running out of cash. Workers are worried about their income and their future, yet the Federal Government continues to provide nothing more than a wall of silence on plans for their industry."
Airline caterer Dnata, which employs 5,500 people in Australia and is owned by the Emirates Group, told its workers last month they would not receive JobKeeper payments and should instead apply for JobSeeker, which is $400 a fortnight less.
The Transport Workers' Union has called on the federal government to extend the subsidy to cover all workers.
Protesters will picket the Melbourne office of Treasurer Josh Frydenberg from 10.30am and target Employment Minister Michaelia Cash in Perth at 1pm.
They will push for a national plan to guide industry out of the pandemic, including getting Virgin Australia back in the sky.
The airline's 9,000 workers are collectively owed about $450 million, giving them a key vote in selecting its new owners.
US private equity firms Bain Capital and Cyrus Capital Partners made the short-list of bidders for Virgin on Tuesday.
Administrator's Deloitte have granted the prospective buyers a 10-day extension until 22 June to lodge their final offers.
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