Sacked

Sacked on Day 1

Cairns seafarer Barry Davies (not his real name) got his letter of dismissal on Monday March 27, the day the new IR laws came into effect.

Incao Ships had suspended Barry in March and called him before a disciplinary hearing on trumped up charges of intimidation, writing on company lockers, failure to replace the air conditioning outflow cover in his cabin and washing work clothes on board the Wunma.

He was dismissed with effect from the close of business that day with 28 days pay in lieu of notice, outstanding leave and entitlements.

Shonky Employer

Ausport Marine not only refused to sign the agreement it negotiated with the MUA before Christmas, it tried to sack four MUA members in its mooring/unmooring operations in Sydney.

"This shonky employer was calling for forced redundancies," said Assistant Branch Secretary Warren Smith. "What's more they were robbing workers of around $18,000 in super payments. They were even pocketing members' salary sacrifices."

Ausport workers held a 24 hour stoppage in protest and the company has since reached agreement in principle with the union.

Instead of reducing labour to 12 the MUA has successfully negotiated 17 positions with only two redundancies.