The strike will see more than 50 refuellers working at Sydney Airport stand down from shifts on Friday, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) shared in a statement.
Workers have notified Ampol of work stoppages which will occur across three shifts – the night shift between 1am and 5am, the day shift between 7am and 11am and the afternoon shift between 6pm and 8pm.
According to the TWU, the refuelers have been unable to come to an agreement with Ampol after six months of negotiations.
It states the company is unwilling to meet workers’ reasonable demands and the Fair Work Commission has rejected Ampol’s claim that TWU had not bargained in good faith.
Over the last three years, Ampol refuellers have received a 3.5 per cent pay increase.
Only 24 out of 68 employees are on full-time contracts.
The 10 most popular international airlines in Australia
TWU Queensland and NSW State Secretary Richard Olsen said the workers had been forced to strike after Ampol claimed keeping refueller wages low was crucial for maintaining long-term contracts with airlines including Qantas.
“These workers are dedicated professionals who deserve better. Ampol’s refusal to address their reasonable requests has left them with no choice but to take action. In an industry where profits are soaring, it’s unacceptable that those who keep it running are treated so poorly,” Olsen said.
“The aviation industry is facing a crisis driven by the relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of workers. We urgently need a Safe and Secure Skies Commission to establish fair standards and ensure that every role, from the baggage room to the cockpit, is valued and secure.”
Ampol serves 16 airlines, including Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar, Air New Zealand, Delta and British Airways.
Domestic routes between Perth and Darwin are anticipated to be the most affected during the strike, along with some international flights and routes between Melbourne and Brisbane.
It comes three weeks after a planned strike by Ampol refuellers on July 30 was called off due to crisis talks between TWU and Ampol.
In a statement shared with 9News, Sydney Airport said: “We are ready to support our airline partners in mitigating the impact on their operations.
“Passengers who are travelling on Friday are encouraged to stay alert for messages from their airline regarding the status of their flight.”
In a statement to 9News, Ampol said it is “disappointed by the industrial action being proposed by the Transport Workers’ Union on behalf of our Sydney refuellers team, given the 25.6 per cent remuneration and other benefit uplift over the life of the agreement that has been offered to date.”
“We have contingencies in place to minimise operational disruptions for customers. We will continue to negotiate in good faith to arrive at a mutually beneficial resolution.”