Svitzer’s tug crews have voted to adopt a historic new single four year enterprise agreement (EA), a key part of the Company’s long term strategy to build a sustainable business that can continue to provide all its employees with a decent and secure livelihood and our customers with a high quality service. The final vote was 63 per cent in favour of the new EA and 37 per cent against it. Svitzer Australia’s Managing Director Mark Malone said: “The result of the ballot is extremely pleasing. “At a time when the Australian maritime industry is going through some tough times and has already experienced its fair share of job losses, Svitzer’s workforce has chosen to put job security ahead of further industrial confrontation. “Importantly, it’s an EA that will work for both Svitzer and our crews. “Indeed, the four years of industrial stability and certainty this new EA will provide will allow us to focus on winning new customers and growing the business while our crews can get on with doing what they do best: operating tugs. “I also want to thank port authorities and our customers for their support throughout the process of landing the new EA. What’s more, I can assure each of them that more than ever Svitzer is committed to providing the safe, reliable and round-the-clock towage service they expect from us.” The new single agreement: · Replaces the three EAs which expired on 31 December 2015, thereby simplifying the process for handling industrial matters going forward and making sure that issue affecting the entire workforce are dealt with collectively and efficiently; · Retains and protects for the next four years all the rights, conditions and entitlements masters, engineers and deckhands have had for the past three years; · Increases wages annually, albeit by a modest amount but in line with rises in the cost of living (with a floor of 1.5 per cent); · Provides permanent part time crew members with greater certainty when it comes to their pay and leave arrangements; · Runs for a duration of four years.. The new EA will be lodged later today with the Fair Work Commission for approval.

Source by Tugs Towing & Offshore