Dear Valued Customer,
Svitzer has communicated that the maritime unions have temporarily suspended all industrial action from midnight 16th of November (local times).
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has issued a statement and directions, listing a hearing for 1.00 pm (AEDT) today, 17/11/2022 to decide whether or not to suspend or terminate protected industrial action by Svitzer.
Meanwhile Svitzer operational teams have been working to minimise the effects of the ongoing protected industrial actions and are now working hard to develop contingency plans for the various scenarios that may materialise.
Svitzer have stated they remain committed to the Fair Work Commission hearing scheduled for 1pm Thursday 17th of November and the need to be respectful of due process.
A lockout of staff by Svitzer is planned for 12pm AEDT Friday which will impact all Australian port operations.
Svitzer notes the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations comments today in support of termination of the protected industrial action and parties remain in consultation
Background: Svitzer is a tugboat operator across 17 Australian ports. They have a stalemate with the finalisation of a new enterprise agreement for their workers. Negotiations have been ongoing for the past three years and have called for a lockout of employees on Monday after weeks of union strike action.
Updates will be provided as they come to hand.
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