Communist Party of Australia

The week-long dispute between Bass and Flinders and the Maritime Union of Australia was settled last Wednesday, with both parties signing off on an agreement to raise both wages and safety for the Manly Fast Ferry.

“It’s a win for commuters and a win for the workers,” said MUA Sydney branch secretary Warren Smith. “Commuters will get the insurance of a service that will maintain the highest community and safety standards, the workers will get decent wages and conditions. It’s all we ever wanted.”

However Mr Smith also called for the NSW government in future to give proper consideration to workers’ rights in tendering processes.

Maritime workers and community supporters had been protesting the new service with picket numbers swelling to around 70 a day at Circular Quay.

Under question was the company decision to bypass the union, cutting back on wages and safety conditions on the new service at the same time undermining the public ferry service. Negotiations had broken down the previous week and the daily protests informed commuters of the safety and wage issues and urging them to give the new fast ferry a miss.

The new agreement signed between the MUA and management includes:

• commitment to a union collective agreement

• guaranteed safe operating procedures

• 25 per cent pay rise for crew.

The parties aim to finalise the agreement by March 31. All pickets and protests will stop while negotiations are under way.

Back to index page

Next article — Fosters' workers fight on