Tug workers go on strike at Australia's 5 biggest east coast ports

Time:2016-01-14 Browse:70 Author:RISINGSUN
DELAYS and disruptions to shipping have been caused by rolling 12-hour stoppages held this week by Svitzer Australia`s tug boat engineers.

They are also members of the Australian Institute of Marine & Power Engineers (AIMPE), at the ports of Geelong, Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on the east coast.

The strike comes after Svitzer`s current enterprise agreement expired on December 31. A new, single, enterprise agreement has been agreed and approved by the officers` and deckhands` unions. However, the dispute has arisen because the AIMPE is demanding a separate enterprise agreement for its own members, Lloyd`s List Australia reported. 

AIMPE strongly objects to non-engineers having control over engineer issues. But Svitzer Australia argues that the engineers` conditions will be protected in the enterprise agreement even though it is a single agreement.

"This industrial action is not only reckless but unnecessary. In response to this industrial action, we have decided that enough is enough. We have initiated the process that in the coming days will give our workforce the opportunity to vote to approve the proposed new enterprise agreement. We are determined to do all we can to bring a speedy resolution to matter," Svitzer Australia said.