The union representing Customs officers at sea say they are becoming increasingly vulnerable to a range of diseases, with six workers last year contracting tuberculosis from asylum seekers.
The Community and Public Sector Union are in dispute with Australian Customs and Border Protection Service on several fronts amid negotiations over enterprise bargaining agreements.
As well as concerns over exposure to diseases, the union's Nadine Flood says officers on asylum seeker boat patrols are being treated unfairly because they miss out on a daily allowance of $170 compared to those working to protect the patagonian toothfish in southern waters.
And she says workers are stuck on patrols for too long, with officers spending up to 92 days at sea.
"Customs marine officers are the forgotten frontline. It's difficult, demanding and dangerous work, yet they are paid less than officers protecting the patagonian toothfish in the Southern Ocean," she said.
"Their work has changed dramatically in the last few years, but Customs management have done nothing to ensure their pay and conditions have kept up with this new role."
The union has demanded the agency provide staff with better protections against disease and the same benefits as those on other patrols.
The dispute between staff and Customs comes as Immigration Minister Chris Bowen prepares to meet East Timor president Jose Ramos-Horta later today to discuss plans to open an immigration processing centre there.
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says he is not surprised that some workers have become infected with tuberculosis.
"These are the things that happen when boats arrive at this level of frequency," he told NewsRadio.
Australian Customs and Border Protection Service has released a statement saying the workers tested positive to exposure to latent tuberculosis infection, which it says is very different from active tuberculosis.
It says the union's claims are misleading and that all the officers have received medical treatment.
Source:http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/12/3035861.htm?section=justin
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