Cruise Whitsundays strike action ramps up as pay negotiations continue

Claims Whitsundays workers were made to sleep on “black mould” covered mattresses are among the latest in a three-week dispute which has thrown dream holiday cruises and plans into turmoil.

As the industrial action plaguing Cruise Whitsundays approaches its third week, staff have alleged they have been made to sleep in mattresses covered in “black mould” or on couches.

It comes as the cruise and ferry operator continues negotiations with the Queensland branch of Maritime Union Australia to reach an agreement over pay rises with another meeting planned for Wednesday.

However, despite an agreed meeting on the books, staff still plan to strike on Tuesday.

Employees began striking and marching through Airlie Beach streets on September 15, forcing Cruise Whitsundays to cancel ferries over to the islands and throwing holiday plans into turmoil.

A Cruise Whitsundays spokeswoman said 50 out of their 126 staff members took part in protected industrial action, requiring them to cancel 49 tours.

Many tourists had to scramble to find alternative arrangements, with some missing out on their island experience altogether like Sheryll Ann who had planned a trip for her 25th wedding anniversary.

Cruise Whitsundays staff are partaking in strike action amid a payrise dispute.

“(I) was really looking forward to being able to do these things, stress free,” Mrs Ann posted in The Hamilton Island Visitors Facebook group.

“We won’t be able to come back for many years, not everyone can just turn up whenever.

“Makes me think we should have gone overseas instead of spending the money in Aus [sic].”

Others were calling for patience while the strike plays its course like Dominique Atchison who pleaded for people to “be kind” to the Cruise Whitsundays team members who were not at “fault”.

MUA urged to ‘honour their commitment’

A Cruise Whitsundays spokeswoman said the business had offered pay rises to its staff of between 4.8 and 44.2 per cent above award rates equating to an increase of between $1.50 to $13 per hour.

She said the MUA had rejected the latest proposal, which was the fifth since bargaining began “with little movement on their end”.

“Through regular meetings with the committee, we have received and implemented the majority of the feedback in relation to remuneration and benefits, which is reflected in this latest proposal,” she said.

Union members on strike against Cruise Whitsundays

“We urge the MUA to honour their commitment to retract industrial action while parties are actively negotiating and while the proposal is out to our employees for feedback.

“There is absolutely no need to further displace holidaymakers or impact the many local suppliers and businesses that rely on Cruise Whitsundays.”

MUA Queensland branch secretary Jason Miners said they were pushing for an overall 30 per cent increase, adding Cruise Whitsundays’ staff were paid a third less than other marine operators across the region.

Mr Miners said the award rate for a casual deck crew member was $31, and the union had been trying to change the industry’s Enterprise Agreement since March, 2022.

‘Forced to sleep on a couch’

But it is not only lower pay rates which have left Cruise Whitsundays’ staff disgruntled.

Employees, whose identities have been protected, said when they were provided beds, the mattress were covered in black mould, and when they were not, they were forced to sleep on a couch on the Reefworld pontoon.

Union members on strike against Cruise Whitsundays

There were further complaints the business had not replaced boat motors as necessary and had told mechanics to “make it work” leading to breakdowns while on the water.

Then an employee said she was homeless as she could not afford rent, after working 53-hour weeks without overtime pay.

In response, a Cruise Whitsundays spokeswoman said the company had “rigorous internal processes and safety checks in place to ensure the safety of guests and employees, as our accreditations attest to”.

“We pride ourselves on delivering for world-class experiences for the many thousands of guests that have travelled with us over the past 19 years,” she said.

As of Tuesday, Cruise Whitsundays had resumed some of its cancelled tours.