Border force airport strikes banned for three months - but customs and immigration staff reject claims that a walk-out would put people at risk

Airport customs and immigration staff, who have been banned from taking industrial action for three months, have rejected claims that airport strikes put the community at risk.

Border Force officers and immigration department staff lost their right to strike for 90 days at airports under a Fair Work Commission ruling released on Wednesday.

Airport customs and immigration staff, who have been banned from taking industrial action for three months (stock image)

'We agree our members' industrial action was designed to have a significant impact on ... the government, but categorically reject that this action would have posed a risk to the Australian community,' said Community and Public Sector Union secretary Nadine Flood.

Earlier this month customs and immigration had planned a walk-out at a number of Australia's international airports before the strikes were called off.
The Fair Work Commission ordered that the strike be suspended pending its decision on a government bid for a three-month halt on strikes on national security grounds.

Travellers pictured at Sydney International Airport in September last year. The Community and Public Sector Union earlier said the strikes will not compromise Australia's national security

CSPU customs and immigration officials are pictured marching during a strike in July last year

The planned action was set to take place at Sydney international, Perth international as well as Darwin and Adelaide airports and continue until April 12.

The action was suspended on national security grounds after an application from the Immigration Department.

The strikes had initially been planned for the Easter long weekend but were suspended in the wake of the Belgium terror attacks so as not to compromise Australia's national security.



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