THE tug engineers’ union is defending strike action to keep separate industrial agreements for the three unions involved in the industry.
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The Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers is resisting a push by tug operator Svitzer for a single agreement, which is supported by the Maritime Union of Australia and the Australian Maritime Officers Union.
AIMPE’s strike in Newcastle stopped shipping for 12 hours until 4pm on Tuesday, with strikes in other ports on Wednesday.
AIMPE said a 2014 Port Hedland dispute showed the need to keep separate agreements, after the other two unions had “backed down” on conditions. But the other unions said the company concerned, Teekay, then lost its contract with BHP Billiton to a non-union operator.
AIMPE official Martin Byrne defended his union’s tactics, saying the other unions had proposed the extra 28 days annual leave that triggered the dispute. They rescinded their push, but AIMPE held firm.
