Qld Branch Report, by Greg Yates & Brendan Matthey
Queen Mary II visits Brisbane: On February 16th the largest Ocean liner to ever visit Brisbane arrived. The Queen Mary II arrived for its first ever visit to Brisbane, while it was only in Brisbane for a day trip it was a big event for many people in south east Queensland with hundreds of people watching on from luggage point as the QM2 was at berth all day but also during docking.
becoming clear that Van Oord have none or little understanding on how the Institute operates and how the changes to the Marine Orders will impact upon their workforce. The Institute has on a number of occasions put proposals to Van Oord to solve the impasse that is taking place over Enterprise Bargaining. These proposals give Van Oord exactly what they want but Van Oord still refuses
Dredging International There have been no more meetings regarding Enterprise Bargaining since Christmas due to unforeseen circumstances. Discussions are moving forward but as one agreement is yet to expire it does cloud the water a little. The institute will be pursuing Dredging International to achieve a new collective agreement for both propelled and non-propelled dredges. In the meantime Engineers employed by Dredging International need to get themselves organised by joining the Institute and ensuring that you nominate the Institute as the bargaining representatives for engineers employed by DI. Another meeting is pending.
The Queen Mary II berthed at the luxurious grain terminal at Brisbane’s Fisherman’s Island
Two Svitzer tugs were on the job helping the ocean liner berth. The Svitzer tugs Clontarf and Newstead were given the task of placing the largest ocean liner to visit Brisbane at dock. To get the QM2 into berth took approximately 90 minutes. The Queen Mary II can carry over 3000 passengers and 1200 crew. Included in that crew is an engineering department of 27 officers with 19 or 20 officers doing engine maintenance and 7 or 8 undertaking general maintenance around the vessel. The Queen Mary II has 15 restaurants and bars, 5 swimming pools a casino, a ballroom, a theatre and the first ever planetarium at sea.
Van Oord Van Oord is still attempting to play games with the Institute and with their Engineers not only in Gladstone but elsewhere around Australia. It is
to accept there is another side to the negotiations. Van Oord are doing the typical union busting acts such as refusing to talk to the Institute about enterprise bargaining but all the while are sending out emails to engineers stating that the Institute are not bargaining. Van Oord have even started handing out individual agreements to engineers (we all remember individual agreements from the John Howard era), Van Oord then threaten engineers by saying if you want an increase then you must sign an individual agreement. So much for bargaining in good faith. Engineers have made it clear that they want the Institute to bargain on their behalf, so to circumvent this Van Oord just refuse to talk. Engineers need to make it clearer that they want the Institute to be their bargaining representative in all matters.
Gardline Agreement Near Finalisation The Agreement covering the RV TRITON and ASHMORE GUARDIAN is near finalisation following clarification of agreement clauses with members. Following clarification of the new allowance for the Customs tender maintenance members are now ready to proceed to approve the agreement.
Members Pete Heatherwick and Neill Munro on the Ashmore Guardian
On Watch March 2012 page 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44