Protected Industrial Action Update – 27 October

Advice of Protected Industrial Action: 28 October, 1 and 2 November 2022

Dear Customers and Stakeholders

Members of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), Australian Institute of Maritime and Power Engineers (AIMPE) and Australian Maritime Officers Union (AMOU) have advised of additional notices of protected industrial action.

Please note as the industrial relations rules in Australia allow, the industrial action is subject to change, and it is likely that we will receive further notices of action.

Current status of Protected Industrial Action – 28 October, 1 & 2 November

The current notices we have received include:

A combination of work stoppages affecting ports in Far North Queensland (Cairns, Mourilyan and Lucinda) – these actions effectively result in a 48 hour stop work period at these locations from 00:00 1 November to 00:01, 3 November 2022.
Bans on being recalled from leave and performing relief work. This effectively removes relief capacity at several ports and the ability to service operations should there be any absences, illness or leave.
Bans on certain work periods – in terms of not working more than 12-hours continuously and requiring a 30-minute break following 5 hours of work.
Certain bans on training and use of Svitzer systems.

Nb. Summary of action below – searchable table by Port with detail of impact at bottom of this post.

Next Steps

The impact will vary from customer to customer, subject to current shipping schedules. Your Svitzer contact will be in touch with you directly regarding specific impacts.

Svitzer will continue to do all it can to minimise the disruption to our services and the ports we operate in.

We are incredibly disappointed in this unnecessary and harmful action and sincerely regret its impact on your business.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Svitzer point of contact should you have any questions or concerns, and we will continue to keep you up-to-date.

Sincerely

Svitzer Australia

Table of Protected Industrial Action – 27 October

Port	State Date of Action	Period	Type of Industrial Action(s)	Comment on Anticipated Action
Albany	2022-11-01 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty	Our crews work 12 hour shifts with some flexibility to go over 12 hours for a small amount of time such as 30 minutes as over time. This ban will remove that flexibility that each crew will only work 12 hours. If a job is scheduled that may bring them over 12 hours they will not start that job. This does not mean that we cannot provide 24 hour service. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Albany	2022-11-01 08:00:00	indefinite	Ban on continuous operation of vessel or vessels for a period in excess of 5 hours without a 30-minute rest break	Our crews take relevant meal/rest breaks flexibly to accommodate port shipping schedule. This ban removes that flexibility that each crew will take a 30 minute break if they have operated continuously for 5 hours. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Adelaide	2022-10-28 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty	Our crews work 12 hour shifts with some flexibility to go over 12 hours for a small amount of time such as 30 minutes as over time. This ban will remove that flexibility that each crew will only work 12 hours. If a job is scheduled that may bring them over 12 hours they will not start that job. This does not mean that we cannot provide 24 hour service. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Brisbane	2022-10-28 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on continuous operation of vessel or vessels for a period in excess of 5 hours without a 30-minute rest break	Our crews take relevant meal/rest breaks flexibly to accommodate port shipping schedule. This ban removes that flexibility that each crew will take a 30 minute break if they have operated continuously for 5 hours. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Brisbane	2022-11-01 09:00:00	72 hours	ban on training masters, engineers and ratings	Except for training relating to statutory drills and emergency preparedness
Cairns	2022-10-28 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty	Our crews work 12 hour shifts with some flexibility to go over 12 hours for a small amount of time such as 30 minutes as over time. This ban will remove that flexibility that each crew will only work 12 hours. If a job is scheduled that may bring them over 12 hours they will not start that job. This does not mean that we cannot provide 24 hour service. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Cairns	2022-10-28 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on continuous operation of vessel or vessels for a period in excess of 5 hours without a 30-minute rest break	Our crews take relevant meal/rest breaks flexibly to accommodate port shipping schedule. This ban removes that flexibility that each crew will take a 30 minute break if they have operated continuously for 5 hours. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Cairns	2022-11-01 00:01:00	24 hours	24 hour work stoppage	a 24 hour stop work with no operations. Includes 24 hour stoppage by MUA members (deckhands) and AMOU (Masters) and six back-to-back four hour stoppages by AIMPE members (Engineers)
Cairns	2022-11-02 00:00:00	24 hours	24 hour work stoppage	a 24 hour stop work with no operations. Includes 24 hour stoppage by AMOU (Masters) and rolling four hour stoppages by AIMPE (Engineers) from 00:01 – 00:20:01 meaning vessels can’t be crewed.
Eden
Fremantle	2022-11-01 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty	Our crews work 12 hour shifts with some flexibility to go over 12 hours for a small amount of time such as 30 minutes as over time. This ban will remove that flexibility that each crew will only work 12 hours. If a job is scheduled that may bring them over 12 hours they will not start that job. This does not mean that we cannot provide 24 hour service. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Geraldton	2022-11-01 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty	Our crews work 12 hour shifts with some flexibility to go over 12 hours for a small amount of time such as 30 minutes as over time. This ban will remove that flexibility that each crew will only work 12 hours. If a job is scheduled that may bring them over 12 hours they will not start that job. This does not mean that we cannot provide 24 hour service. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Kwinana	2022-11-01 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty	Our crews work 12 hour shifts with some flexibility to go over 12 hours for a small amount of time such as 30 minutes as over time. This ban will remove that flexibility that each crew will only work 12 hours. If a job is scheduled that may bring them over 12 hours they will not start that job. This does not mean that we cannot provide 24 hour service. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
	2022-11-01 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on continuous operation of vessel or vessels for a period in excess of 5 hours without a 30-minute rest break	Our crews take relevant meal/rest breaks flexibly to accommodate port shipping schedule. This ban removes that flexibility that each crew will take a 30 minute break if they have operated continuously for 5 hours. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Lucinda	2022-11-01 00:01:00	24hour	24hour work stoppage	a 24 hour work stoppage by MUA members (deckhands) meaning vessels can’t be crewed.
Lucinda	2022-11-02 00:01:00	24-hour	24hour work stoppage	a 24 hour work stoppage by MUA members (deckhands) meaning vessels can’t be crewed.
Melbourne	2022-10-28 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty	Our crews work 12 hour shifts with some flexibility to go over 12 hours for a small amount of time such as 30 minutes as over time. This ban will remove that flexibility that each crew will only work 12 hours. If a job is scheduled that may bring them over 12 hours they will not start that job. This does not mean that we cannot provide 24 hour service. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Melbourne	2022-10-28 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on enetering data into a Svitzer system
Melbourne	2022-11-01 08:00:00	24 hour	ban on performing recall and/or relief work	Bans on being recalled from leave and performing relief work. This effectively removes relief capacity at several ports and the ability to service operations should there be any absences, illness or leave.
Mourilyan	2022-10-28 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty
Mourilyan	2022-10-28 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on continuous operation of vessel or vessels for a period in excess of 5 hours without a 30-minute rest break	Our crews take relevant meal/rest breaks flexibly to accommodate port shipping schedule. This ban removes that flexibility that each crew will take a 30 minute break if they have operated continuously for 5 hours. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Mourilyan	2022-11-01 00:01:00	24hour	24hour work stoppage	a 24 hour stop work with no operations. Includes 24 hour stoppage by MUA members (deckhands) and AMOU (Masters) and six back-to-back four hour stoppages by AIMPE members (Engineers)
Mourilyan	2022-11-02 00:00:00	24 hours	24 hour work stoppage	a 24 hour stop work with no operations. Includes 24 hour stoppage by AMOU meaning vessels can’t be crewed.
Newcastle	2022-10-28 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty	Our crews work 12 hour shifts with some flexibility to go over 12 hours for a small amount of time such as 30 minutes as over time. This ban will remove that flexibility that each crew will only work 12 hours. If a job is scheduled that may bring them over 12 hours they will not start that job. This does not mean that we cannot provide 24 hour service. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Newcastle	2022-10-28 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on enetering data into a Svitzer system
Newcastle	2022-11-01 08:00:00	24 hour	ban on performing recall and/or relief work	Bans on being recalled from leave and performing relief work. This effectively removes relief capacity at several ports and the ability to service operations should there be any absences, illness or leave.
Port Kembla	2022-11-01 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty	Our crews work 12 hour shifts with some flexibility to go over 12 hours for a small amount of time such as 30 minutes as over time. This ban will remove that flexibility that each crew will only work 12 hours. If a job is scheduled that may bring them over 12 hours they will not start that job. This does not mean that we cannot provide 24 hour service. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Port Kembla	2022-11-01 08:00:00	24 hour	ban on performing recall and/or relief work	Bans on being recalled from leave and performing relief work. This effectively removes relief capacity at several ports and the ability to service operations should there be any absences, illness or leave.
Sydney	2022-10-28 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty
Sydney	2022-10-28 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on continuous operation of vessel or vessels for a period in excess of 5 hours without a 30-minute rest break	Our crews take relevant meal/rest breaks flexibly to accommodate port shipping schedule. This ban removes that flexibility that each crew will take a 30 minute break if they have operated continuously for 5 hours. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Sydney	2022-10-28 08:00:00	Indefinite	Ban on enetering data into a Svitzer system
Sydney	2022-11-01 08:00:00	24 hour	ban on performing recall and/or relief work	Bans on being recalled from leave and performing relief work. This effectively removes relief capacity at several ports and the ability to service operations should there be any absences, illness or leave.