This will affect the shipping operation of ports in major cities and regions such as Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
Svitzer said that when the shutdown takes effect, no ships will be towed into or out of the 17 Australian ports served by Svitzer, including Botany Port, Pirie Port, Melbourne Port, Freemantle Port, Brisbane Port, Newcastle Port and other ports.
Svitzer is the largest tugboat operator in Australia, which conducts about 50000 towing operations every year, which means that this shutdown may lead to the stoppage of most container transport, causing people to worry about the large-scale disruption of the supply chain before Christmas.
The prohibited employees include 582 employees covered by the Company's 2016 National Tugboat Enterprise Agreement. These employees belong to three maritime unions in Australia: the Australian Maritime Alliance (MUA), the Australian Institute of Maritime and Power Engineers (AIMPE) and the Australian Maritime Officials Union (AMOU).
The Australian Maritime Union issued a statement saying: "For many years, Svitzer, as the only major towing supplier of Australia's large ports, has enjoyed a near monopoly position. Forbidding workers to work will damage Australia's productivity and prevent the loading and unloading of consumer goods and bulk commodities in Botany, Kembra, Melbourne, Newcastle and Brisbane and other major ports. Every Australian enterprise and consumer will now be affected by the company's selfish and stubborn behavior. ”
Svitzer indicated in the notice that it had taken this measure in accordance with the provisions of the Fair Work Law in response to the destructive and continuous strike action of the trade union organization.
Svitzer said that since the expiration of the 2019 agreement, it has held negotiations with the Maritime Union for more than three years. Since October 2020, the Maritime Trade Union has notified more than 1100 strikes. Since October 26, 2022, the strike action is still frequent, and the trade union is almost notifying new protected strike action every day.
The prohibited employees include 582 employees covered by the Company's 2016 National Tugboat Enterprise Agreement. These employees belong to three maritime unions in Australia: the Australian Maritime Alliance (MUA), the Australian Institute of Maritime and Power Engineers (AIMPE) and the Australian Maritime Officials Union (AMOU).
The Australian Maritime Union issued a statement saying: "For many years, Svitzer, as the only major towing supplier of Australia's large ports, has enjoyed a near monopoly position. Forbidding workers to work will damage Australia's productivity and prevent the loading and unloading of consumer goods and bulk commodities in Botany, Kembra, Melbourne, Newcastle and Brisbane and other major ports. Every Australian enterprise and consumer will now be affected by the company's selfish and stubborn behavior. ”
Svitzer indicated in the notice that it had taken this measure in accordance with the provisions of the Fair Work Law in response to the destructive and continuous strike action of the trade union organization.
Svitzer said that since the expiration of the 2019 agreement, it has held negotiations with the Maritime Union for more than three years. Since October 2020, the Maritime Trade Union has notified more than 1100 strikes. Since October 26, 2022, the strike action is still frequent, and the trade union is almost notifying new protected strike action every day.
The company said: "This has damaged Svitzer's ability to provide reliable, safe and efficient services for its shipping customers and port operations throughout the country, and has caused serious damage to the national supply chain that depends on shipping."
Nicolaj Noes, the managing director of Svitzer Australia, said: "Our goal has always been to reach a new enterprise agreement, and we have conducted detailed negotiations in good faith. We once hoped that there would never be a shutdown, but now we have no choice but to respond to the destructive strike action being carried out by the trade union."
The trade union said that Svitzer Australia, the tugboat operator, had delayed the negotiation between the two parties.
The terminal operators of the affected Australian ports were forced to get caught in the middle, and they called on the government to intervene to prevent stoppages and finally resolve contract disputes. Patrick Terminals, the terminal operator, said that the shutdown would affect the handling of 10000 TEUs per day; DP World also points out that Svitzer handles 70% of the ships arriving at its terminals.
Maersk issued a notice yesterday that the following ships have been affected:
Nicolaj Noes, the managing director of Svitzer Australia, said: "Our goal has always been to reach a new enterprise agreement, and we have conducted detailed negotiations in good faith. We once hoped that there would never be a shutdown, but now we have no choice but to respond to the destructive strike action being carried out by the trade union."
The trade union said that Svitzer Australia, the tugboat operator, had delayed the negotiation between the two parties.
The terminal operators of the affected Australian ports were forced to get caught in the middle, and they called on the government to intervene to prevent stoppages and finally resolve contract disputes. Patrick Terminals, the terminal operator, said that the shutdown would affect the handling of 10000 TEUs per day; DP World also points out that Svitzer handles 70% of the ships arriving at its terminals.
Maersk issued a notice yesterday that the following ships have been affected:
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It is hereby reminded that cargo owners and freight forwarders who have related business contacts in the near future should pay attention to the latest progress and make good freight arrangements.
