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Job Security for Sydney Ferries workers

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Published on Monday, 19 December, 2011

Early this year the ASU was told by the incoming Liberal Government that they were going to go ahead with the privatisation of Sydney Ferries. This is despite the drastic improvement in the performance of the Ferries that has been driven by the workers there, including ASU members. Over the last three years hard work by union members has seen patronage on the Ferries increase by almost 1.5 million trips per year, over $20 million dollars saved and only 129 services cancelled, down from almost 1, 200.

Early in the consultation process ASU members were told that they, and only they, would not have guaranteed jobs under the new operator. All other staff would have to be offered jobs with a generous transfer package to go across. ASU members did not take this lying down, they fought hard and, with the support of the other Ferries unions have now secured an Agreement that drastically increases their job security. While we didn’t win guaranteed jobs members have just endorsed changes to our Agreement that gives a two year job guarantee with no forced redundancies and salary maintenance for that whole period.

Delegates recently gave presentations to the three preferred tenderers, promoting the work of Senior and Salaried staff and ensuring that ASU members will be consulted throughout the privatisation process. ASU delegates have worked tremendously hard in solidarity with other unions and to ensure that ASU Senior and Salaried members were not left out in the cold.