Spread the love

Virgin Australia passengers could face a rough start to next week. Airport staff plan two rounds of stoppages at Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane on Monday, 16 November. A dispute over pay and hours has moved from the bargaining table to the boarding gate.

The Australian Services Union (ASU) says its members will step up protected industrial action unless talks on a new enterprise agreement make progress. Those involved work at check-in desks, gates and other guest-service points. Their role is easy to miss until it stops.

Before Monday, the union also plans a ban on routine boarding calls, gate changes and final calls. Safety, security and welfare messages will still be made. An airport with fewer boarding calls is not an airport with no safety advice.

ASU members also plan to waive eligible fees for excess bags, seat changes and late fees. They will cease lounge check-in duties and use normal passenger security lanes. Earlier action had already ended some priority boarding. It is a pointed way to press management, while giving most travellers a chance to fly.

Monday is the real test

Under the ASU timetable supplied for this report, staff would hold back boarding until just 15 minutes before each flight’s planned departure. They would also walk off the job for two one-hour periods at each airport.

In Melbourne and Sydney, the planned stops are 6.30 am to 7.30 am and 5 pm to 6 pm. Adelaide’s times are 5.30 am to 6.30 am and 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Brisbane faces stops from 7 am to 8 am and 4 pm to 5 pm. All times are local.

The union warns that flights may be delayed or cancelled. But no flight-by-flight list of cancellations has been verified. Nor does a short work stoppage mean every plane will be grounded. The outcome will depend on how many staff take part, the airline’s back-up plans and whether a deal is struck.

Why staff are pushing back

The row centres on pay, nine-hour shifts and days off in lieu. The ASU says Virgin’s offer falls short and would wear down staff who spend much of each day on their feet.

“Virgin wants to run a premium model on budget resources which is simply not sustainable for workers or passengers,” ASU Assistant National Secretary Scott Cowen said in the supplied statement.

“The eight-hour day is a basic Australian right and one we will fight to protect for our members.”

The union says staff helped the airline through its pandemic-era crisis. It claims that wage freezes and staff cuts left too few people to do too much work. There is a cost for guests as well. No frequent flyer tier can make a thinly staffed queue move faster.

According to its FY26 financial results, Virgin made an underlying net profit after tax of $404 million in the year to 30 June 2026. That was up 21.9 per cent. The figure is not the same as its $753 million in underlying operating earnings, or its $501 million statutory net profit.

The airline disputes the idea that its offer lacks value. It has said its plan includes base pay rises of five per cent in year one and four per cent in each of the next two years. It has also cited changes to shifts, allowances and days off. More recent reports put total pay rises for guest-service staff at 17 to 28.9 per cent over three years, depending on each role.

Virgin says it has back-up plans to limit flight delays. A spokesperson said the airline wants a deal that rewards staff and keeps the business able to compete. The union, for its part, says fair pay and decent rest are key to good service. That is the gap still to be bridged.

What passengers should do now?

Passengers due to fly from or through the four airports should check their flight status before leaving home. They should also watch the airport screens and leave more time to check in. Those with tight links, cruise departures or firm plans should speak to their airline or travel advisor early.

Virgin says it sends flight changes by app, email and text. Its advice on delays sets out options for new flights, travel credits and refunds, subject to the facts of each case. A delay does not always mean a cash refund or a free hotel room.

For now, Monday’s timetable remains a threat, not a tally of lost flights. One thing is clear: the silence at the gate may be the least costly part of this fight.

Plans may change with little notice. Check directly with Virgin Australia.