Water & Ports

GRAND PRIX OR GRAND FLOP?

Details

Published on Wednesday, 21 May, 2008

Just before Australia day, members at NSW Maritime rattled management's nerves by pulling a 4 hour stop work meeting that threatened to put in disarray Australia Day celebration plans.

The stakes were high however ASU members were forced into the position of taking this drastic action. Just before last years state election, management agreed to a 4% pay increase only to have it knocked back by Treasury a week after they were re-elected. Come the Super Grand Prix boat race on the 8th March this year, members walked off the job again, this time for 11 hours winning them a 3.5% wage increase with the payment being retrospective to July 2007.

"We get only a few times a year to have a strategic impact on management. New Years Eve, Sydney-Hobart, Australia Day and the Super Grand Prix to mention a few. The next would not have been until July when the Pope comes out here so we had to grasp the opportune moment", said ASU delegate Les Brix-Neilson.

"We realised that as workers we don't have community bargaining power. The community doesn't care if we stop work, but politically however we have a lot of edge. So to have the desired effect we realised we had to worry the State Government".

Their win is a message to the State Government that 2.5% doesn't and won't cut it. This leads the way for all other state employees. 

What is particularly encouraging about the win at NSW Maritime is that it was organised among workers who were quite nervous because they had never taken such action before and they sit daily next to management. They overcame their fear of potential repercussions and looked toward a higher state based aim. Taking industrial action while working so closely with management is a gutsy effort.

Another member that took part in the stop work protest was both impressed and surprised at the outcome. She believed that the key motivation came from the increasing cost of living and interest rises coupled with group meetings that practically explained how management was letting them down; how negotiations were stalling; and how they had little other choice than to take action.

ASU Secretary Sally McManus believes members at NSW Maritime demonstrated a sense of unity, strength and influence.

"One of the most promising outcomes apart from the obvious 3.5% wage increase is the power ASU members have built. This will have a knock on affect for bargaining in years to come", she said.