BAE workers walk off the job over ongoing pay dispute
More than 200 workers from Australia’s largest defence company have walked off the job over pay – and they have some high-level support.
SA Business
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The deputy prime minister has recognised the “critical” role defence workers play in Australia after more than 200 BAE Systems (BAE) employees walked off the job over an ongoing pay dispute.
BAE has been attempting to introduce an effective wage cut as part of EA negotiations, which prompted the industrial action by workers, who are engaged in the Royal Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel and Hunter Class Destroyer project at Osborne Naval Shipyard, on Wednesday.
The workers strike coincided with a visit to the site by deputy prime minister Richard Marles and premier Peter Malinauskas who both stopped to talk to employees upon arrival.
“They are critical workers in terms of our national mission, in terms of building Australia’s strategic space in terms of responding to the complex strategic circumstances that our country faces,” Mr Marles said.
“What I wanted to say to them today was just that the nation recognises their service and values.”
BAE recently offered workers a 5.4 per cent wage increase over year threes, but workers are fighting for an increase in line with inflation projected to hit 7 per cent by the end of the year.
Mr Marles said the enterprise agreement is a matter for the workers, union and BAE.
“That’s a process which will play out in the normal way and is playing out in the normal way. I simply make the observation that the value of their work is tremendous, in terms of what the nation requires,” he said.
AMWU SA Assistant State Secretary Stuart Gordon said despite executive salaries and profits on the rise, workers are being asked to take a financial hit.
“Last year, BAE topped up the base salary of their chief executive, Charles Woodburn by 13 per cent and awarded him an additional ‘golden handcuffs’ share package of $A3.5m, payable in 2023,” he said.
He said some workers family budgets are under more pressure than ever.
“Now that the cost of living is so high, these guys have finally had enough,” he said.
“Workers and their families need a wage increase that will give them some security for their future.”
This week, BAE announced it had offered its UK workforce a pay rise of 6.75 per cent, followed by a second rise of 6 per cent next year, as well as two $A1770 cost-of-living payments.
“We obviously feel some frustration about that. We acknowledge that inflation is higher in the UK, but the struggles are the same as what they are here,” Mr Gordon said.
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