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Maritime Union gets reality check on conduct

LABOR Party stalwart, former ACTU boss and former resources minister Martin Ferguson has launched an extraordinary attack on the Maritime Union of Australia, backing the oil and gas industry’s position that the MUA’s conduct in current EBA negotiations ‘threatens the economic prospects of its members and (Western Australia) as a whole’.

In a candid speech delivered last Friday (February 28), Mr Ferguson said he was pleased to see workplace relations reform back on the national agenda and singled out the Maritime Union’s militant approach to industrial bargaining to strengthen his point.

“Here in WA, the activities of the MUA with regard to the current Vessel Operator Enterprise Bargaining Agreement are particularly short-sighted,” said the former resources minister and now chairman of APPEA’s advisory board.

“The manner in which the union conducts its industrial agenda will have major impacts on productivity and it demonstrates the need for a clear-eyed assessment of the Fair Work Act.”

Mr Ferguson went on to highlight excessive wages outcomes in greenfields (new projects) agreements, the wide scope of matters that can be included in bargaining, and the short-term of agreements as major areas of the workplace system in need of reform.

His comments on the MUA refer to the 21 vessel operators which have been attempting to bargain with the union since the start of 2013 for new enterprise agreements covering about 2,500 seafarers.

These operators critically service Australia’s $170 billion offshore oil and gas industry, but after more than 12 months of negotiating, are all still facing a shopping list of excessive industrial claims that would erode the viability of the sector.

AREEA has been leading the negotiations on behalf of the offshore oil and gas maritime support sector, and was quick to highlight that if the MUA was serious about a long-term sustainable future for Australian seafarers, it must drop any threats of strike action and return to the bargaining table with a realistic approach.

“Martin Ferguson’s comments today on the MUA’s reckless bargaining tactics further demonstrate that the union’s approach is contrary to the long-term national wellbeing and the interests of its members,” says AREEA executive director Scott Barklamb.

“Mr Ferguson’s comments came just one day after the Federal Court ruled against the MUA undertaking a 48-hour strike due to deficiencies in the notice provided to the employer.

“This presents an opportunity for the MUA to reconsider its approach.

“At a time when the global competitiveness of Australian business is under intense pressure, it is irresponsible for the MUA to continue to threaten strike action, particularly when the union agreed to participate in further talks with the industry and the Fair Work Commission.

“The MUA should pay attention to Martin Ferguson’s warning that its behaviour is threatening the economic prospects of its members, the industry and the state. They should instead work with employers towards making a realistic agreement that will set resource operations and seafarers up for sustained and sustainable future prosperity.”

Contrary to the MUA’s misleading public statements, Mr Barklamb says the maritime employers are committed to hiring and training Australian seafarers and supporting their family lives.

“With the average salaries ranging from $170,000-$240,000 for working six months of each year, the offshore resource maritime sector has some of the most generous remuneration and leave arrangements in the country,” Mr Barklamb says.

“Australian seafarers spend far more time at home with their families and earn multiple times that of nurses, doctors, teachers and other important occupations in our society.

“By continuing to pursue its unrealistic and reckless agenda and threatening to strike, the union is unfairly damaging the global reputation of Australia’s offshore industry and delaying pay rises for its members and their families.”

For more information on this matter, contact Tom Reid via 0419 153 4070419 153 407.0419 153 407

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