Cairns community relieved as Fair Work ruling eases tugboat worker lockout

A last-minute decision by the Fair Work Commission has secured immediate work for Svitzer tugboat workers, but the long-running industrial dispute is far from being finalised.

A last-minute decision by the Fair Work Commission has prevented 41 Cairns tugboat workers being locked out indefinitely by shipping giant Svitzer.

On Friday at 11am AEDT, Fair Work vice-president Adam Hatcher signed off on a binding order to Svitzer Australia, which enforced the “suspension or termination of protected industrial action”.

Mr Hatcher said the protected industrial action by Svitzer Australia Pty Limited was suspended for six months, until 11am on May 18, 2023.

At the same time Cairns No.6 Wharf was abuzz with acivity as members of the Maritime Union of Australia cheered when Assistant Branch Secretary Paul Gallagher announced Fair Work had scuppered the proposed lockout by Svitzer.

The compnay is owned by international shipping giant Maersk.

Surrounded by MUA members and other union supporters, Mr Gallagher said the decision was a huge relief.

Maritime Union Australia workers were joined by members of other unions to protest Svitzer Australia action and ongoing enterprise agreement issues on Friday, November 18, 2022. Picture: Alison Paterson

“All this showed is that Svitzer holds a monopoly on Australian ports and that they hold the country to ransom,” he said.

“Six years ago these workers agreed to take a 10 per cent pay cut and a four-year wage freeze so the company could secure the Cairns contract. Since then they’ve only had a two per cent pay rise over the past 10 years. All (workers) want is to keep up with the cost of living.”

At the rally Cairns business owner Chad Wilson, said he and his wife Sarah Turner, who owns Dijo Clothing in the CBD, had been worried about the proposed lockout.

“I’m really concerned, if tugboat workers are locked out because like many Cairns businesses, we rely on cruise ship customers,” he said.

“November and December is the busiest time for cruise ship visits here, those customers make up to 50 per cent of our annual business.”

Chad Wilson, 44, said he was there with daughter Sage, 4, to support workers protesting the tugboat worker lockout as a ban on cruise ships would hurt their Cairns CBD boutique. Picture: Alison Paterson

The Cairns rally was one of 17 held at ports simultaneously around the country.

Mr Gallagher said while the Fair Work decision had halted Svitzer action in this instance, the enterprise agreement matter between the MUA and the employer needed to end.

Showing solidarity at the MUA rally were Tracy O'Farrell, Patricia Cater and Maddie Heathfield (Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union) and Thresea Jankowski (Queensland Teacher's Union). Picture: Alison Paterson

“Svitzer must get back to the table, finish the enterprise agreement, give the workers a pay rise and cut out this militant behaviour,” he said.

“If this is how they want to treat their workers and the Australian public, then they should get out of Australia.”

Svitzer responded with a statement that said the company acknowledged the decision by the Fair Work Commission, “which will ensure no industrial action by any party for the period of suspension”.

“It remains to be seen whether the maritime unions will participate in negotiations constructively or whether we will see more of the same,” the company said.

Originally published as Cairns community relieved as Fair Work ruling eases tugboat worker lockout