With all the mining activity up North, traffic coming in and out of the Karratha Aiport has grown at a rapid rate. Unfortunately the wages and regional allowances of ground staff at the town's airport haven't enjoyed the same growth.
In fact - as far as spending power is concerned - they've probably gone backwards.

Hopefully that's about to change with a majority of the workers recently joining the TWU.

At present the troops are on a flat rate of $27 per hour with no overtime or shift loadings. Given that they work around 50 hours a week that's not enough. Their regional allowance of $1.50 per hour worked is pretty piss poor too. Work 50 hours and you get $75. They've got to be joking!

It must be cheaper to live in Monaco than it is in Karratha where they are charging people $1500 to rent small transportables.
The ground staff are employed by Karratha Ramp Services and an off-shoot firm called San Lea. Their managers are still in a state of shock after we told them we want the regional/accommodation allowance lifted to $800 per week.
A few of their employees live in company owned houses paying between $300 - $500 per week. Others are out there in the private rent jungle coughing up the exorbitant going rates for a roof over their heads.

We are confident of improving things for our new members.