The replacement of Geelong tug crews with ‘fly-in fly-out’ workers has prompted union threats to halt national pay negotiations.
On Monday the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and maritime workers protested Svitzer, Australia’s largest tow services operator, engaging Strategic Workforce Solutions to replace 18 employees who lost their jobs at the Port of Geelong.
“Svitzer Australia tossed 18 local workers on the scrap heap just before Christmas, telling them they were abandoning the Port of Geelong,” MUA Victorian secretary David Ball said.
“Just six months later, we discovered that the company plans to restart operations using fly-in fly-out labour hire workers rather than providing jobs to the local community.
“This multinational company … wants to profit from providing towage services at our port, but not provide any jobs or economic benefits to our local community.”
Svitzer paid out $4.13 million in redundancy packages to 17 full-time employees, according to the company, and Mr Ball admitted some of the workers had been happy to move on.
But Svitzer had “refused to work with the union” on rehiring employees rather than subcontracting the work, he said.
“Realistically, nine workers could make the operation work in a financially viable way for Svitzer.”
The MUA is currently negotiating a national enterprise agreement (EA) with Svitzer.
“We won’t be ticking off on the national EA without Geelong being fixed,” Mr Ball said.
Svitzer ceased direct provision of towage services at the Port of Geelong in December 2020, after suffering “significant financial losses” at the location.
According to Svitzer, the company committed to maintaining salaries but needed to make “reasonable changes” to conditions.
“Unfortunately, our proposed changes were rejected,” the company stated.
A company spokesperson confirmed Svitzer had entered into an arrangement at the Port of Geelong with Strategic Workforce Solutions.
