The Loop: Ground crews threaten to strike, COVID hospitalisations on the rise, Manly Sea Eagles coach's pride jersey apology

Hello. It's Tuesday, July 26 and you're reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of today's news.

Let's start here

Have you been caught up in any of the major delays at Aussie airports lately?

It could be on track to get worse, with "chronically overworked" ground crews threatening strike action over pay and working conditions.

The Transport Workers Union said about 700 baggage and ramp operations staff at global aviation company Dnata were applying to the Fair Work Commission to hold a vote on industrial action over attempts to push through an "unpalatable" new work agreement that "gives pay cuts to experienced workers and below award minimum conditions".

The strike action would likely impact thousands of travellers at Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne international airports.

What else is going on

• Two women have appeared in court for the first time after a toddler was found unconscious on a daycare bus in May. Police allege the women left the three-year-old on the bus in Gracemere for several hours — the child was airlifted to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in a critical condition, and has since recovered.
• Department of Health figures show a record number of Australians are in hospital with COVID, surpassing the peak at the start of the year, but intensive care admissions have reduced. AMA vice-president Chris Moy said the combination of a softer variant, vaccinations and management treatments such as antivirals mean less people are getting sick enough to be admitted to ICU.

What Australia has been searching for online

• David Warner. The acclaimed actor who featured in productions like Star Trek and Titanic has died aged 80 at a retirement home for entertainers in London. 

• Milton Dick. The Labor Member for Oxley has been elected Speaker of the House of Representatives as parliament resumes for the first time under a new government.

One more thing

Manly Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler has apologised over the club's handling of its pride jersey rollout, calling it a "significant mistake".

Des Hasler told media the club's pride jersey "conflicts with the cultural and religious beliefs" of some players. (Supplied)

He said the intent of the jersey was to "support the advocacy and human rights" but admitted the club's execution of the initiative was "poor".

Hasler said the club would still wear the pride jersey in tomorrow night's match, which includes rainbow trimming in areas where white stripes usually are, and seven players who refused to wear it will not take to the field against the Roosters.

You're up to date

Thanks for reading.

ABC/wires