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Teekay MUA officials’, organisers and delegates met with Teekay management on the 2nd of November for the second consultative committee meeting of 2023. Amongst a host of other items on the agenda, during the meeting, MUA representatives raised concerns of Teekay losing employees to the offshore in droves due to the difference in wages between the Teekay fleet and the offshore oil and gas sector. The position, as instructed by the membership, was to approach Teekay for an immediate uplift in wages to the sum of $20,000 on top of the current sala- ries. This is now being considered by the Australian Teekay management team who will approach the Commonwealth and revert with a decision by 1st De- cember 2023. Teekay know they are in deep shit and it’s becoming a real possibility that their vessels will not leave the wharf in the near future if this claim isn’t addressed with some urgency.
Tidewater Income protection and salary continuance We all know OSM are one of the grubbiest operators on the Australian coast, but they hit a new low when it came to the treatment of members who were at the lowest point in their lives through no fault of their own. These Tidewater permanent employees were left in limbo for months when it came to claim- ing salary continuance for non-work-related illness. In their wisdom, when OSM management took over the Tidewater manning business, and without any consultation with the MUA and rank and file, they decided to change the income protection provid- ers as well as the salary continuance provider that covers permanent Tidewater employees for the first 12-weeks after accident or illness. This decision led to a disastrous and extremely stressful few months for members that were un- der the impression that they were insured under the PROTECT insurance scheme. OSM manage- ment turned their backs, put their heads in the sand and completely ignored the calls for assistance from long-standing hard-working employees going through hell. SHAME ON OSM!!!! This is the type of behaviour members are dealing with when it comes to working for OSM and we have had a gut full. This was raised during the following Tidewater members meeting where endorsement was reached to resolve this through action. While we were in the later stages of EA negotiations and protected industrial action was about to kick off once again, we reminded OSM management that we don’t leave our members behind. We made our po- sition clear that until these matters were resolved, we would not be reaching any agreement with OSM.
BATTLES, VICTORIES, AND INDUSTRY REALITIES
Revalidations With the offshore absolutely booming towards the back end of 2023, the lack of training provided from all the short-sighted, slimy, greedy businesses in our industry is evident. These massive multinational companies take, take, and take some more without giving anything back in the way of training for the future. There is now a massive skills shortage across all departments which has instigated an incentive by the MUA for past members revalidating IR tickets through METL. In early September, I sent out an SOS email regard- ing METL funded revalidation training available to past members who had left the industry due to the downturn over the last 5 years. The immediate re- sponse was overwhelming. Since then, I have worked closely with METL, or- ganising IR revalidation training courses across the country for members that have an interest in return- ing to sea. To date there have been four full courses set which will all be finished by the end of Decem- ber 2023. This will see around 60 IR’s returning to an industry that is in dire need of their skills.
‘It’s now been almost 12 months since I started in the position of WA Branch Organiser. Firstly, I would like to thank the Rank and File for making me feel welcome in the position. To the officials and staff here in the WA Branch office, your guid- ance and support has been greatly appreciated. To be honest, I don’t think I could have started in this role at a better time. The offshore EA campaign was in full swing, negotiations with several man- ning agents and vessel operators were ramping up and there were PIA Ballots coming out of our ears, which led to the most protected industrial action taken by seafaring members in years. Employers such as DOF, MMA, Tidewater, OSM, Solstad and Atlas were all served with PABOs that lead to ac- tion being taken by the rank and file. Ultimately this action secured the wages and conditions that are now enjoyed by all members in the offshore oil and gas sector with 117% across the board.
Brendon Brolly | WA Branch Organiser M: 0431551817 |P: 08 9335 0500 E: brendon.brolly@mua.org.au
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