One Airport, One Workforce: ASU turns tide on decades of outsourcing, wins up to 30% pay rise as QantasLink workers brought in-house

Australian Services Union Media Release 12th May 2026

The Australian Services Union (ASU) has secured a major victory for aviation workers, with a new proposal from the Qantas Group to bring hundreds of QantasLink customer service agents and movement control officers into the airline’s core operations.

The proposal, which covers customer service employees at Sydney Domestic and Brisbane airports, will see staff from QantasLink subsidiaries Eastern and Sunstate offered direct employment with Qantas Airways.  

The ASU has today turned the tide on decades of outsourcing, effectively closing a long-standing loophole that allowed the airline to pay workers different rates for performing comparable roles across different business entities.

Under the new arrangements, impacted workers are set to see their base pay improve significantly, with some members receiving an immediate uplift of up to almost 30 per cent. Transitioning staff will also see improved redundancy protections, additional leave and allowances and improved staff travel, providing unprecedented job protections in the sector.

Speaking in response to the announcement of this agreement, ASU Assistant National Secretary Scott Cowen said:

“For years, our members have fought against a fragmented system that intentionally divided workers to keep wages low and conditions weak. 

“Today, we have proven that the same work deserves the same pay, regardless of which entity’s logo is on the pay cheque. This is a fundamental reset for our members in Sydney and Brisbane who have been the backbone of QantasLink’s success.

“This isn’t just about a major pay rise, though that is a life-changing win during a cost-of-living crisis. This is about bringing jobs back inhouse, that have been outsourced for decades.

“This victory brings roster justice, job security and dignity to workers supporting Australians traveling across the country. By bringing these workers into the main Qantas family, we are securing better leave, improved staff travel, and redundancy protections that lead the industry.

“We have sent a clear message to the entire aviation sector: the ‘race to the bottom’ stops here. 

“When workers stand together across entities and classifications, we have the collective power to force even the biggest corporations to change how they do business. We are building one stronger, more unified airport workforce where every member is valued properly.

“While this is a historic step forward, it is just the beginning of our consultation. 

“Our priority now is ensuring that every member is supported during this transition and that their skills and years of dedicated service are fully recognised under the main Qantas agreement. 

“We will continue to fight until every loophole across the Qantas Group is closed for good.”