Virgin Australia ground staff seek ballot for industrial action over payment dispute

(Reuters) -The Transport Workers’ Union on Tuesday alleged that Virgin Australia was not honouring its payment commitments to ground and cabin crew and sought a ballot to take industrial action against the Bain Capital-owned airline.

The union said workers had applied for a protected action ballot with the Fair Works Commission to obtain rights for a strike.

“Ground workers have asked the Fair Work Commission to grant them a Protected Action Ballot because they can’t afford to stay in low-paid, part-time and insecure jobs,” Nick McIntosh, the union’s national assistant secretary, said in a press statement.

The carrier was expected to sign up to five commitments including an employee share scheme as well as investments in technology and workers to maintain safe and fair standards, according to a statement from the union in July.

Virgin Australia said earlier in the day it was in talks with the ground staff for a new enterprise agreement.

“We are in the process of negotiating a new enterprise agreement for our Pit Crew employees … continue to negotiate in good faith with our people and the Transport Workers’ Union,” a Virgin Australia spokesperson said.

Virgin Australia posted its first profit in 11 years for fiscal 2023 earlier this month, buoyed by a recovery in travel demand following the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Reuters reported earlier this month that the airline had delayed its listing plans in Australia to 2024 after assessing market conditions.