BULLETIN : SVITZER LOCKOUT NOTICE : POTENTIAL PORT DISRUPTION AUSTRALIA WIDE : FRIDAY 18TH NOVEMBER 2022.
Svitzer Australia has published a notice today, informing the three maritime unions (MUA, AIMPE and AMOU) and relevant crew of its intent to lockout all crews covered by the Svitzer Australia Pty Ltd National Towage Enterprise Agreement (2016) indefinitely, from 12pm, Friday 18 November 2022 AEDT.
Svitzer, part of Maersk Group, provides a critical link in Australian supply chain operations port side, providing towage of seagoing vessels in and out of port berths.
The Danish tug boat giant Svitzer intends to lock out 582 employees from 17 ports indefinitely, in response to what it described as “damaging” industrial action.
The company holds a near monopoly over hauling operations in Australian key ports, and has been embroiled in enterprise agreement negotiations with unions for three years.
The company said the union action has resulted in 250 instances of industrial action since late October, amounting to 2,000 hours of work stoppages.
“We had hoped it would never come to a lockout,” Svitzer Australia managing director Nicolaj Noes said.
But we are at a point where we see no other option but to respond to the damaging industrial action underway by the unions.”
Mr Noes said he was hopeful the dispute could be resolved before Friday’s lockout, which he said would cause widespread disruption to the freight industry.
“We’re such a key part of logistics in Australia so that if we don’t work, the ports don’t work,” he said.
New South Wales Transport Minister David Elliott is holding crisis talks with representatives from Svitzer and the Maritime Union today.
The action will impact 17 ports including Botany, Port Pirie, Fremantle, Melbourne, Newcastle and Brisbane.
Our teams will continue to monitor this unfolding scenario and should vessels be impacted, we will work directly with our clients for specific shipment updates.
Should you have any concerns on the above subject matter , pertaining to a particular shipment, please contact our account management teams directly.