Wirraway
26th Nov 2002, 16:03
Wed "Sydney Morning Herald" 27/11/02
Flight delays on cards as union slaps ban on luggage collection
November 27 2002
Baggage handlers at the Qantas terminal at Sydney airport have placed a ban on fetching unaccompanied luggage from plane holds on all domestic flights.
The Transport Workers Union said workers met yesterday and opted to put the ban in place from 4pm.
The union's state secretary, Tony Sheldon, said baggage handlers, who were not trained in security, collected bags from a plane hold when a passenger failed to board a flight.
A union spokesman said the ban could delay flights.
"If there's unaccompanied baggage that needs retrieving from domestic flights, baggage handlers won't be going in to get it," he said. "We believe it should be done by federal police or appropriately trained security personnel."
Unions had already raised concerns about the non-screening of checked-in baggage on domestic and some international flights.
The union said it was concerned the airport could be a target for an attack, particularly in the wake of the Federal Government's terrorist alert.
Mr Sheldon said Qantas even offered bag handlers free movie tickets if they found unaccompanied bags.
"These guys have been trained to pick up bags on a conveyor belt; they have no specific training at all in identification or terrorism work," he said.
The TWU said baggage workers from Virgin Blue were meeting to consider imposing a similar ban on collecting unaccompanied luggage.
AAP
Flight delays on cards as union slaps ban on luggage collection
November 27 2002
Baggage handlers at the Qantas terminal at Sydney airport have placed a ban on fetching unaccompanied luggage from plane holds on all domestic flights.
The Transport Workers Union said workers met yesterday and opted to put the ban in place from 4pm.
The union's state secretary, Tony Sheldon, said baggage handlers, who were not trained in security, collected bags from a plane hold when a passenger failed to board a flight.
A union spokesman said the ban could delay flights.
"If there's unaccompanied baggage that needs retrieving from domestic flights, baggage handlers won't be going in to get it," he said. "We believe it should be done by federal police or appropriately trained security personnel."
Unions had already raised concerns about the non-screening of checked-in baggage on domestic and some international flights.
The union said it was concerned the airport could be a target for an attack, particularly in the wake of the Federal Government's terrorist alert.
Mr Sheldon said Qantas even offered bag handlers free movie tickets if they found unaccompanied bags.
"These guys have been trained to pick up bags on a conveyor belt; they have no specific training at all in identification or terrorism work," he said.
The TWU said baggage workers from Virgin Blue were meeting to consider imposing a similar ban on collecting unaccompanied luggage.
AAP