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Strike to cause disruption at Australian airports next week

Xinhua, June 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

International travelers arriving at and leaving Australia will be disrupted next week when Customs and Immigration staff stage a strike over pay and conditions.

The two-hour stoppage from 9 a.m. on Wednesday July 1 will affect flights in all Australian international airports.

At the heart of the dispute is a push by the Federal government to cut some pay conditions which would see staff lose up to 8,000 Australian dollars a year while not receiving a general pay rise, according to their Community and Public Sector Union.

Union spokeswoman Nadine Flood said they regretted the impact on travelers, but had resorted to the action due to what she called the Tony Abbott-led Australian government's stubbornness in negotiations.

"These men and women literally put their lives on the line to keep Australia safe," Flood told AAP.

"They have tough and sometimes dangerous jobs which deserve our thanks and respect, yet the Abbott government is pushing a policy that will dramatically cut their take home pay."

The union warns people to expect disruptions also at seaports where cruise ships arrive and depart. Endi