Passengers may face long queues and delays at major international airports across the country after customs officials walked off the job over proposed cuts to their pay and conditions.
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In Sydney, more than 200 staff marched outside the airport just after 9am on Wednesday carrying placards and chanting.
Meanwhile inside queues for travellers entering the country stretched more than 100 metres at customs check points, a CPSU spokesman told AAP on Wednesday.
The Community and Public Sector Union called the two-hour strike from 9am affecting airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin as well as seaports.
‘‘We regret any inconvenience to the public as our message is for the government who is trying to strip rights and pay from workers,’’ CPSU spokesman Chris Taylor said.
Mr Taylor said under the government’s deal about $8000 will be cut from pay packages for workers who handle dangerous goods and other risky operations.
The strike coincides with the launch of the Australian Border Force, a single frontline operational border agency within the immigration department.
It also comes after a four-hour strike at Melbourne airport on June 25 meant hour-long queues to get through customs.
‘‘We are expecting delays,’’ a Melbourne Airport spokesman told AAP on Wednesday.
The union for Commonwealth workers is in a protracted pay dispute and it will receive a revised pay offer later this month.
People heading to the airport to catch flights have been warned to expect delays.
AAP
