Protected industrial action returned to Tasmania’s ports on Saturday, September 12, after the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and the Australian Maritime Officers Union (AMOU) issued formal notice of a fresh round of action affecting Launch Master and Vessel Traffic Services roles. The action, which TasPorts described as manageable, includes a four-hour work stoppage on Saturday morning and a range of ongoing work bans affecting marine operations. Vessels requiring pilotage and TasPorts-provided launch services face restrictions, with pilot and launch movements at Burnie, Devonport and Bell Bay limited to between 6:00am and 6:00pm on weekdays, while launch services in Hobart have been suspended entirely from 6:00am Saturday until further notice, affecting pilot launch transfers and bridge transit escorts.
TasPorts said high-frequency Bass Strait freight and passenger services through Burnie and Devonport are not expected to be affected, and that vessel traffic monitoring and coordination functions should continue to operate under contingency arrangements. The dispute centers on wages, rostering and superannuation, with unions seeking pay increases above TasPorts’ offer, an even-time roster for launch masters and higher employer superannuation contributions for the roughly round-the-clock workforce that coordinates ship arrivals and departures across the state’s 11 commercial ports. The latest walkout mirrors action initially planned for August 8 that was withdrawn at the eleventh hour so both sides could resume negotiations, talks that have since failed to produce an agreement TasPorts is willing to accept.
Source: The DCN (Daily Cargo News) — https://www.thedcn.com.au/news/tasports-manoeuvres-around-union-bans
Tags: Tasmania, TasPorts, Labor Dispute, Vessel Traffic Services
