Update: 12.06.2023
Maersk's towage operator in Australia, Svitzer, announced the outcome of the vote on an agreement that settles long-standing strife with its employees. The update issued by the company said, "Svitzer can advise its customers and stakeholders that a majority of colleagues have voted in favour of the 2023 National Towage Enterprise Agreement (63% Yes)."
The disputes between the two parties neared a dead-end in November last year when Svitzer decided to lockout around 600 of its employees, banning them from attending work. However, an intervention by Australia’s Fair Work Commission (FWC) at the time managed to stop this decision, preventing major disruption in Australia's port operations.
The majority vote for the agreement - which covers hundreds of workers, including tugboat helmsmen, engineers, and dockworkers from 17 ports - rules out any strike action by Svitzer's employees for the time being.
Original article: 02.06.2023
Svitzer announced yesterday it had reached an in-principle agreement with three maritime unions representing 600 Australian towage service operators, engineers and deck workers.
The new proposed National Towage Enterprise Agreement brings to an end a three-year negotiation process regarding wages. The deal will need to be ratified by the members of the unions before it can come into effect.
"Svitzer has made a fair offer – and our hope is that this is reflected in a favourable vote," said the company in a statement. Voting on the proposal will take place from 8-10 June.
Negotiations on a new agreement have been ongoing since late 2019. In November last year, Svitzer Australia issued a lockout notice to 600 towage employees, preventing them from working after multiple slow-down and strike actions by its workers.
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) intervened after concluding the lockout would bring 17 Australian ports to a grinding halt. The parties were given until mid-May to come to an agreement.
In its announcement of the new proposal, Svitzer Australia noted that protected industrial action is not possible with an in-principle agreement in place and with a voting period due to commence.
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), one of three unions involved, pushed for the owners and management of the company - Svitzer and Maersk- to get involved in negotiations back in March this year as tensions ran high over wages. The union is yet to comment on the latest wage proposal.
