Sacked Australian Shipping Crew - When is it our turn?
Sacked ship crew stand firm despite fines threat
A group of seamen sacked by the owners of an Australian tanker docked in Hobart says they are prepared to risk big fines for taking industrial action over the issue.
Eighteen crew from the Stolt Australia were sacked last night, as part of a plan to reflag the tanker under a Cayman Islands flag, and hire cheaper, foreign labour.
The group are still refusing to reload the vessel or leave it, vowing to stay on the ship until they get their jobs back.
The crew members have ignored union advice that their protest could incur big industrial relations fines.
At a protest earlier today, spokesman Roy Muir said he and his colleagues hoped their actions would highlight the impact of Federal workplace changes on Australia's shipping industry:
"1996 there was 104 Australian-manned ships, now we're down to less than half of that - if this one goes it's just another one so - shame Johnny shame," he said.
Mr Muir says he and his colleagues feel they have to take a stand.
"Stolts have been the recipient of shipping reforms, crew reductions via multiskilling and training, including government funding, and still they're not prepared to commit to the employment of skilled, experienced and safe Australian seafarers," he said.
Meanwhile, the Australian Maritime Union (AMU) says the practice of allowing more foreign shipping crews into Australia is a chink in the nation's armour.
AMU spokesman Mike Wickham says the disappearance of Australian-crewed ships from Australian waters is a worry.
He says local crews have to go through rigorous security checks that many foreign crews do not, and that puts Australia at risk.
How long until this happens to honest Australian aircrew guys???
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...7/s1682140.htm