TasPorts marine pilots will go back on strike this week, with their union hitting out at the company for engaging in “unethical behaviour” during negotiations – including making “totally untrue” claims about pilots refusing to drive electric vehicles.
Last week, the Australian Maritime Officers Union and marine pilots reached an agreement to temporarily suspend their protected industrial action and continue negotiations “as a sign of good faith”.
But now, the union says industrial action will resume because Tasmanian pilots still remain the lowest-paid in the nation.
“As part of the ongoing negotiations … the Marine Pilots suspended Protected Industrial Action in an effort to engage in genuine negotiations with TasPorts,” a union spokesperson said.
“Unfortunately, this has proven to be fruitless with TasPorts not only failing to adequately address Pilots’ outstanding claims but bringing additional claims to the table under the guise of ‘productivity improvements’.”
TasPorts Chief Executive Officer Anthony Donald confirmed the company has increased their offer from 12% to 14.25% over three years, linked to productivity improvements.
He said the AMOU sought assistance from the Fair Work Commission and withdrew from a bargaining meeting on Monday.
“The response to return to protected action is extremely disappointing,” Donald said.
“We acknowledge and look forward to the next round of meetings, which will be facilitated by the FWC and trust that a common-sense outcome is achieved, whereby further economic and reputational impact to our customers, communities, tourism and the State is avoided.”
The protected industrial action, including work stoppages on weekends and public holidays, bans on work outside rostered hours and communication with agents, will be reinstated from 12pm on Wednesday.
Further industrial action is scheduled for February 8th, with a four-hour stoppage planned for 6am in the south, 10am in the northwest and 5pm in the north.
The AMOU say their negotiations for improved salary and leave conditions to align with marine pilots in other parts of Australia will continue.
“We contend that the ongoing industrial disputation should be viewed as TasPorts not being able to adequately manage their own industrial relations landscape, rather than an effort on our part to inconvenience the people our island-state,” they said.
“Safe and efficient marine pilotage is integral to the functioning of our state, and we therefore wish to resume meaningful negotiations as soon as possible in an attempt to minimise unnecessary interruption to Tasmanian businesses and communities.”
