The ASU today (Wednesday 24 August) reacted strongly to news that Qantas will increase the number of E Check-In machines at Brisbane Airports from 4 to 20 at a time of staff shortages and increasing passenger frustration.

ASU Branch Secretary Julie Bignell said the new self check-in machines could lead to chaos - as the number of staff rostered to work on Qantas check-in desks was to be reduced by 16 positions atBrisbane airport.  Ms Bignell said:

The introduction of these new self check-in machines at Brisbane Airport comes at a time when people are becoming more and more concerned with the safety aspects of air travel. Cutting the number of staff at check-in desks and increasing the use of self check-in machines won't make people feel any more secure.

Brisbane is already at crisis point and its coming into peak season where understaffing is chronic at the airport front-line. 

The roll-out program to get these machines operational by October will mean ever longer lines at airport check-ins, with passenger frustration growing, and our members being put under even more stress.

Staff are reporting that airport rage is increasing our members are getting boo-ed and harassed by passengers in the lines when they end their shifts or take their meal breaks.

There has been minimal consultation about increasing the number of self check-in machines at Brisbane Airport and staff fear that safety will be compromised, passengers will become frustrated, queues will lengthen and jobs will be put in jeopardy.

All of this is happening in the shadow of last week's massive profit announcement from Qantas, increased dividends to shareholders, and million dollar executive bonus payments.

You can't cut corners with passenger safety, or put airport employees at risk of abuse from angry and frustrated passengers, just to make even more profits.

The ASU has strongly urged Qantas to address the understaffing and not to implement any redundancies due to the new E-Check-In machines. The ASU has sought full consultation with the Company over these changes.

Editors Note: