Dnata members deserve better and our union is leading the way
As the Industry continues to struggle through the current crisis and work remains scarce in most sectors, no-one is feeling the pain more than dnata workers that have been stood down and remain ineligible for the Jobkeeper payment as a result of the Federal Governments JobKeeper rules.
Our Union continues to agitate and campaign to get the Federal Government to change its Jobkeeper Rules. Part of this campaign is the push for an AviationKeeper scheme for “all” workers in the aviation Industry including all dnata workers.
We have been asking members to add their names to the AviationKeeper petition at the following link www.aviationkeeper.com so that we can keep the pressure on the Government. At this stage there are many members at Dnata that have not yet signed the petition and we need your support. It only takes a few seconds to sign the petition and the more signatures we can get the stronger our position becomes. Also ask your family and friends to sign the petition also. Most recently, aviation sector employers and organisations have also sent a joint letter to the prime Minister pleading for further support into the Industry and all its workers impacted.
Our Union also been working closely with dnata to try and provide alternative work outside the business wherever possible. We were able to get the Vic Gov and DHHS to provide work to some dnata employees with the Hotels and Covid testing locations and currently there are 2 organisations that are offering their services:
- Hatch Labour Exchangeallows you to be considered for temporary, paid work at many different employers, apply to opportunities that are right for you and allow you to return to your existing role when the business as usual resumes at dnata.To join the labour Exchange, please register by visiting https://www.hatch.exchange/covid-19/dnata
- Toll Peoplewhich are located in Melbourne are also assisting displaced dnata staff with work at various locations and industries such as:
- Employees at Toll Sites– Roles for AM/PM shifts to work at Toll sites and be the first point of contact for Employees entering sites. They would be responsible for checking temperatures, signing them in and ensuring they are in good health. Full Training and PPE will be provided. They are looking for people with fantastic customer service and people skills
- Pick Packing roles– have a range of warehouses that are looking for Pick Packers and General Hands, both in the Northern and Western Suburbs. The skillset for these roles vary – anyone with RF Scanner or Voice Picking experience is highly regarded, but also people who are willing to sort freight. Wrap pallets, perform lifting up to 20 kgs , load and unload trucks and operate pallet jacks.
- Forklift roles– in both the North and West areas. Anyone that hold a license and has had a minimum of 6 months experience are preferred and /or anyone has had high reach experience.
- Customer Service– there are some customer service roles open that are based in Campbellfield and some more are coming up in Somerton.
For more information call Toll people on (03) 8369 2400 or visit their website at https://www.tollgroup.com/business-services/recruitment-labour-hire/looking-work and make sure you let them know you’re from dnata and currently looking for work.
The ASU is also in discussions with other organisations to secure additional work for aviation employees and we hope to have more options available soon. Whilst JobKeeper is not currently available for dnata staff, the JobSeeker (Unemployment Benefit) remains available subject to individual eligibility. You can find out more about how the JobSeeker scheme works and if you’re eligible at the following link:
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/payments-job-seekers#a1 or you can call Services Australia on 132 850 from Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm.
Our Union will continue to do all we can to assist our members during these difficult times and we ask for your continued support and involvement whenever we ask for signatures on petitions, or selfies of members holding “We Support Dnata Workers” signs or even sending emails and making phone calls to Politicians that need to do more to change the JobKeeper rules. These are simple tasks and only take a few minutes at best and we need your help to increase the momentum. Whilst these may seem like simple and ineffective things, they absolutely make a difference. We must continue to fight, the Morrison Government is not the friend of working people and we must continue to force him to listen to make the additional necessary changes to ensure that all workers are supported.
