Protest over jobs loss
Union want work to stay in FNQ
MARITIME union members rallied outside Cairns shipping company Sea Swift yesterday to protest its recent axing of six engineers and to urge the company to keep jobs in the city.
Led by assistant secretary for the Queensland branch Paul Gallagher, the Maritime Union of Australia’s demonstration also called on the company to discard the “zombie enterprise” agreement the union said had been operating since 2014.
“Sea Swift didn’t come out to talk with us. We didn’t expect them to,” he said.
“But since the lay-offs and our comments in the media, it’s created enough for Sea Swift to indicate an interest in talking with us – that’s all we wanted.”
Mr Gallagher said the onus was now on Sea Swift to enter discussions after its legal team also indicated to them that they were interested in discussions this Friday about the union visiting members on vessels.
“Jobs are going to get lost if they go to Indonesia, which they’ve denied, but their last one went to Indonesia,” Mr Gallagher said.
A Sea Swift spokesman said the company declined to comment, but CEO Fred White
PICTURE: STEWART McLEAN previously said the company’s workplace agreement was legally approved under Fair Work Act.
“Sea Swift is preparing to commence negotiations with unions and staff on a replacement agreement,” Mr White said.
“Sea Swift has worked to retain as many jobs as possible in the face of the COVID economic crisis.”
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