Svitzer Australia Pty Limited industrial action

For more than 3 years, Svitzer has been bargaining for a new enterprise agreement with three unions:

• the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (AIMPE)
• the Australian Maritime Officers’ Union (AMOU), and
• the Maritime Union of Australia Divisions of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (MUA).

On 14 November 2022, Svitzer issued a media release stating that it had given notice to all harbour towage employees covered under its 2016 National Towage Enterprise Agreement and to the AMOU, MUA and AIMPE of a lockout that will take place from 12:00 pm AEDT, Friday, 18 November 2022, and will continue indefinitely.

Svitzer’s announcement caused the Commission to consider making an order under section 424 of the Fair Work Act 2009 on its own initiative to suspend or terminate protected industrial action by Svitzer (B2022/1726).

This matter was initially listed for mention at 12.00pm (AEDT) on Wednesday, 16 November 2022. The hearing continued at 1pm (AEDT) on Thursday, 17 November.

The hearing has now concluded and a decision and order have been published below.