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Using January Holidays To Sack Nearly 80 Seafarers (Read 257 times)
whiteknight
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Using January Holidays To Sack Nearly 80 Seafarers
Jan 17th, 2019 at 4:49am
 
BHP and BlueScope to Axe Last Two Australian Iron Ore Vessels   Sad
Mua communications on January 15, 2019

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has accused large multinational companies BHP and BlueScope Steel of using the January holiday period to quietly sack nearly 80 Australian seafarers and replace them with $2 an hour exploited foreign labour on the Australian coast.

MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said the union has been informed that the MV Mariloula and MV Lowlands Brilliance would be dumped immediately – the last remaining Australian ships that have serviced BHP and subsequently Bluescope steelworks in this country for more than 100 years.

“This is a national disgrace,” Mr Crumlin said.



“Many, many Australians have known someone who worked on the famous fleet of BHP iron boats, yet the company wants to end more than 100 years of proud trade by sending a couple of sneaky emails in early January.   Sad

“One in eight merchant seafarers died defending this country in two world wars and their legacy deserves a lot more than this treacherous, underhanded attempt to dump Australian workers ahead of a federal election.”

Mr Crumlin said the two vessels move iron ore from BHP’s mining operations in Port Hedland to BlueScope’s steelworks in Port Kembla, then run coal to China before returning to Port Hedland and qualify as cabotage trade.

The union has written to the company demanding answers.

“It is with great surprise and regret we received notice from BHP informing the impending removal of the MV Mariloula and MV Lowlands Brilliance from freight services contracted to BlueScope and consequently, their removal from Australian coastal and international trade,” the correspondence says.

“The decision has the potential to devastatingly affect Australian seafarers and will see BlueScope’s supply chain effectively removing Australia labour from the local Australian industry, being replaced by highly exploited foreign crews paid as low as $2 per hour.”

Mr Crumlin said the MUA remains deeply concerned with BlueScope’s lack of consultation and discussion prior to the announcement by BHP, as well as the fact BlueScope is planning to shut down a trade that has run successfully for more than 100 years when alternatives are available.

“The union understands there to be considerable availability of Cape Size Bulk vessels suitable for the BlueScope freight task currently performed by the MV Mariloula and MV Lowlands Brilliance,” the letter says.

“We urge BlueScope to utilise Australian seafaring labour in its local supply chain. Australian seafarers have serviced BHP and subsequently Bluescope steel works in this country for more than 100 years.”

Mr Crumlin said the MUA had historically worked constructively with both BHP and Bluescope to meet cabotage requirement, including pay freezes during periods of economic downturn.

“This contribution to the company by Australian seafarers deserves ongoing certainty of their employment in BlueScope’s shipping supply chain. We note that during the period of wage freeze by workers including seafarers the Company made a $1.6 billion profit,” the letter says.

Mr Crumlin said the move was particularly galling given the current shipping arrangements do not expire between BHP and Bluescope until June this year and that his brief discussions with company management had shed no light on the reasons behind the decision.

The MUA is now requesting a meeting with BlueScope, BHP, maritime unions and the AWU to ascertain the real facts behind BHP’s decision to dump current shipping arrangements and to further discuss what will occur between now and June.
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whiteknight
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Re: Using January Holidays To Sack Nearly 80 Seafarers
Reply #1 - Jan 17th, 2019 at 4:56am
 
BHP, BlueScope end 100 years of secure shipping jobs   Sad
16 January 2019
ACTU

Corporate giants BHP and BlueScope have announced the end of a century of Australian-crewed iron shipping. 80 Australian seafarers on two vessels that carried iron ore from Port Headland in Western Australia to Port Kembla on the New South Wales south coast who are in the companies’ supply chain have been sacked.

The sacked Australian workers will be replaced by exploited international crews paid as little as $2 per hour.

The multi-national miners have destroyed an industry which provided secure fair-paying local jobs, while the Morrison Government has looked on and done nothing.

The conditions likely to be faced by the crews who replace them are appalling and have no place in Australia.

Quotes attributable to ACTU President Michele O’Neil:

“For 100 years, iron shipping in Australia has provided good, secure local jobs for Australian workers – BHP’s decision to end this long tradition seems to be motivated by greed.

“Good, steady jobs will be replaced by work on flag-of-convenience ships where pay can be as low as $2 per hour and workers’ rights are virtually non-existent.

“The Morrison Government’s refusal to act on flag-of-convenience shipping means that BHP is getting away with destroying local jobs.

“The overseas workers who will be crewing BHP ships in future are likely to be exploited, underpaid and at risk of serious injury or death. This is the world of work that the Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison Government has created.

“We have written to BHP and BlueScope today calling on them to urgently meet with the ACTU and affected unions and immediately reverse this decision.”
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aquascoot
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Re: Using January Holidays To Sack Nearly 80 Seafarers
Reply #2 - Jan 17th, 2019 at 6:29am
 
its sad how the leftie elite have globalised the workforce .

oh well Whiteknight, they can always work 2 shifts a day delivering pizzas to the leftie intellectual elites who exported all the middle class jobs.

dont you be a racist and say that a nation should look after its own.

tsk tsk,     your leftie masters will call you out for being a white supremicist  Cheesy Cheesy
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cods
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Re: Using January Holidays To Sack Nearly 80 Seafarers
Reply #3 - Jan 17th, 2019 at 7:10am
 
the Aust water front has always had this problem.....it is a shame  but seriously crook   isnt it the same as our manufacturing going off shore???????>.


we cant compete wage wise with Asian countries.....its that simple....


we take ourselves out of the export  market we cant compete with world prices.......

what do you suggest we do???....

what does the union want BHP to do...

if they stop exporting   isnt it the same thing?
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freediver
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Re: Using January Holidays To Sack Nearly 80 Seafarers
Reply #4 - Jan 17th, 2019 at 7:43am
 
Perhaps if the union was not so hell bent on destroying the economy those union members might still have their jobs.
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