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The Maritime Union of Australia is carrying out a nationally coordinated protected industrial action campaign on the Australian waterfront.
It has been targeting international shipping and container terminals in Australia. Now it is targeting the towage sector with an extensive series of restrictions and stoppages. Tugs provide vital services by helping ocean-going ships to enter and leave port safely.
Protected action ballot order
The MUA, which is a division of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union, has won an order to hold a protected action ballot of Svitzer Australia employees.
The employees will be asked to authorise an unlimited number of stoppages (which may be arranged in consecutive periods) of four hours and 24 hours. The employees will also be asked to authorise bans on overtime, bans on ship-to-ship jobs and on recalls from leave.
Of particular note is that the MUA is also asking employees to authorise an unlimited number of bans on any work being carried out “any nominated vessel/s or shipping line/s” for an indefinite period.
You can read the full order here.
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A nationally coordinated protected industrial action campaign
A nationally coordinated protected industrial action campaign against shipping lines, container terminal operators and towage operators could bring the waterfront to a stop.
Shipping Australia is very concerned about the adverse effects on Australian families that will be caused by the MUA’s nationally coordinated protected industrial action campaign. About 99% of Australia’s imports and exports by volume, and about 79% by value, are transported by ocean-going ships. This includes the everyday goods, foodstuffs, and medicines upon which Australian families rely.
Bear in mind too that about 9% to 10% of Australia’s workforce is employed in the logistics sector. A large part of that sector is driven by the import and export of goods. Nationally coordinated protected industrial action across the whole waterfront could stop that flow of vital goods and could therefore threaten business viability and jobs in the logistics sector.
Exercise restraint, reform industrial relations
Shipping Australia calls upon the MUA to exercise restraint during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its nationally coordinated protected industrial action campaign could bring the Australian waterfront to its knees, devastate ordinary Australian families and could potentially reduce employment at a time of great economic stress.
Shipping Australia also calls for industrial relations reform so that the entire waterfront cannot be held to ransom at one time.
