Why Airport Security Worker Strike Would Cause Delay / Disruption?

dcep on 15/12/2022 - 00:24
Last edited 15/12/2022 - 10:25 by 1 other user

News media have been reporting there would be chaos in airport upon security workers going strike on 16/19/20th and possibly 23rd December.

Who exactly are those airport security workers? Are they security guards or the customs / immigration personnel or officers that check your bags and scan your body for metals? Aren't those screening officers that check your bags / frisk search / walk sniffer dogs, actually from Border Force; not security workers?

If they're just security guards, why would everyone expect chaos in airport without them?

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  AustriaBargain on 15/12/2022 - 00:29

  +3

  If it causes chaos then we'll find out those workers are more essential than you and the airports thought. If there are no delays then we'll find out they aren't as essential as the workers themselves thought.

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  spal on 15/12/2022 - 06:39

  +3

  Baggage screening, frisk search security workers specifically who are engaged by private security contractor ISS are going on strike.
  Policing is done by AFP inside the airports. Any sniffer dogs you see doing a general security scan would be AFP. Sniffer dogs in the baggage/arrival halls would be quarantine/border protection. AFP and Border protection officers are public servants. They aren't going on strike, at least not yet.

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    dcep on 15/12/2022 - 12:49

    Thanks, that makes sense.

    So, the disruptions from security workers going strike, will mostly be limited to departures and not affecting the arrivals side of things?

    The personnel that scans / open your luggage in arrival halls, are public servants from Border Force right?

    • 

      spal on 15/12/2022 - 16:38

      +2

      So, the disruptions from security workers going strike, will mostly be limited to departures and not affecting the arrivals side of things? - I wish this was as simple. Airports in Australia all together work as one machine. If one part doesn't work other start to falter too. So, if security screening is slow due to lack of staff, the outgoing flights will be delayed. This will through all schedules off, and might impact the income flights and can cause widespread cancellations.

      The personnel that scans / open your luggage in arrival halls, are public servants from Border Force right? - Yes.