“We need to rebalance aviation towards good,secure jobs that keep skilled workers in the industry and ensure the safety of the travelling public,” Kaine said.

He pinned the fall in conditions on outsourcing by Qantas and the lack of JobKeeper payments for Dnata workers under the former Morrison government.

Kaine called on the new Albanese government to establish a regulatory body to set minimum standards across the industry.

A Dnata spokesman said the company had offered workers a “highly competitive” pay offer but also needed to ensure its business was financially sustainable.

“We are disappointed that we have been unable to reach an agreement with the bargaining representatives to date,” he said.

Virgin Australia,Australia’s other major carrier,will not be affected by the strike.

Qantas is challenging in the High Court a recent Federal Court decision declaring the airline’s outsourcing of ground crew workers to be illegal.

If it loses the appeal,Qantas could owe compensation to the nearly 1700 workers it sacked during the pandemic.

Dnata crews provide ground handling services to Qantas international flights in Sydney,Melbourne and Brisbane,however,the company does not service Qantas domestic flights.

The Qantas spokeswoman said Dnata provided services to more than 20 airlines across Australia and a strike would potentially have an impact across the sector.

AAP

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