Union Alliance

MUA/AWU Solidarity in multi-billion dollar Industry

Things are booming offshore & the MUA is making sure workers, incuding Timorese workers are getting a fair go. Meanwhile the union has entered an alliance with the Australian Workers' Union to recruit and organise the multi-billion dollar Australian industry.

The Maritime Union of Australia and the Australian Workers' Union announce a groundbreaking alliance in the offshore oil and gas industry in Australia.

After months of talks the two unions have agreed to formally join forces to recruit and organise the multi-billion dollar Australian industry, which employs thousands of workers.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, effective immediately, there will be no demarcation disputes between the two unions. The AWU and MUA will combine their resources and efforts to:

• Increase the coverage of collective agreements across the industry

• Improve occupational health and safety standards and improve working conditions and wages

• Increase the rate of union membership

The Alliance will launch a joint organising campaign across the industry, targeting major off-shore operators including Woodside, Exxon/Mobil, BHP Billition, Newfield Exploration, Apache Energy, Chevron, Diamond Offshore, Vanguard and other employers including labour hire companies and service industry providers. Union officials involved in the campaign will have dual union accreditation.

The Alliance will be active in all major off-shore regions within Australia including the Timor Sea, North West Shelf, Bass Strait, the Great Australian Bight and the PNG to Australia pipeline.

MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said work deaths and injuries in the off-shore industry highlighted the need for a tough stance on safety.

"The Alliance is committed to improving OH&S standards across the industry,'' he said. "Together we will have more resources to detect, and protect our members from, sub-standard OH&S practices.".

AWU National Secretary Bill Shorten said the new alliance will clamp down on individual contracts, and target guest labor operators who undermine Australian wages and conditions by hiring migrant workers.

After years of competition between the unions, the agreement provides for the MUA and the AWU to work closely together so that all job classifications have either AWU or MUA coverage.

"This alliance is a tremendous step forward in protecting the working conditions and job security for the men and women who work in an essential Australian industry and is seen as an historic breakthrough within the Trade Union movement in Australia."

About 5000 workers are employed off-shore on gas and oil rigs and allied service industries. Employment ranges from rig tenders, divers, seismic vessel workers to mobile offshore drilling units, pipe laying vessels, construction vessels and floating production and storage offtake facilities.

$2.4b NT Gas Project

Meanwhile National Industrial Officer Rod Currie (above) reports Conoca Phillips has announced a $2.4 billion liquefied natural gas exports program.

The value of the export LNG will be about $30 billion over 20 years, which is expected starting in 2006.

The company will buy three LNG vessels and the MUA is seeking to have Australian crews employed in the project.

The LNG project will be the second largest after the Woodside operated North West Shelf project.

The 500 kilometre pipeline from the Bayu Undan project in the Joint Petroleum Development Area (JPDA) is expected to commence around May next year. It will be the longest pipeline in Australian offshore history.

Construction of the LNG plant at Wickham Point in the Darwin Harbour has commenced and is expected to be completed in 2006.

OFFSHORE INITIATIVE

ITF/MUA East Timor trainee seafarer Wbaldo from the Far Scotsman rig tender (above) is one of 42 Timorese the ITF/MUA have helped recruit into the offshore industry in recent weeks.

Frank Soutter, delegate Far Scotsman reports:

On joining the Far Scotsman we were pleased to meet Ubaldo a TIR from East Timor. We were also fortunate enough to run into Mick Killick our tireless MUA member who is very much at the forefront in helping establish a union presence in the East Timor.

Mick brought some Timorese guests on board to talk to us. KSTL trainer Rigoberto Monteriro was in Darwin to attend a three day union delegates course. All but one of the tenders that were in Darwin at the time were more than happy to assist in what ever way we could financially to help with the cost of bringing out our east Timorese comrades.

Rigobeta is the president of his union and has worked long and hard for the last two years in a very dangerous environment for little and mostly now wages whatsoever! We should all dip our hats to him and his comrades for the job that they are doing. We are willing to help in any way we can.

Ubaldo who is our trainee on the Far Scotsman is a very keen learner with a wonderfully friendly disposition.

To our Mick "mate once again you have and are doing a bloody marvellous job. It's efforts like this that makes you proud to be a member of the MUA.

PHOTO:ITF/MUA East Timor organiser Mick Killick, IR Paddy Leach, Lincoln McDowell and National Industrial Officer Rod Currie with East Timorese trainee seafarer Wbaldo from the Far Scotsman rig tendery

PHOTOGRAPHY: David Hancock