Australian dockworkers win 22.5% pay increase
Australian dockworkers rejoiced yesterday after reaching a deal with port operator Asciano that would give them a 22.5 percent pay rise, an increase in supper annuation from nine to 12 percent and backpay from November 2010.
The agreement ends a 20-month dispute that led to a wave of strikes, reported The Australian.
Union officials welcomed the pay rises and undertakings given around safety, while Asciano said the enterprise agreement maintained the company's fundamental right to manage its business''.
Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten, who recently intervened in the dispute, welcomed the deal, which relates to employees at Fremantle, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney ports.
Bargaining sometimes isn't easy,'' he said. However, today's news shows that when parties are willing to sit down and nut their issues out and seek the assistance of the independent umpire, positive outcomes are achieved.''
Veteran waterfront reformer Chris Corrigan slammed Asciano for selling out to the unions, according to The Australian Financial Review.
Parts of industry had surrendered to the union movement and given up trying to manage the workforce, Corrigan said.
Corrigan also warned that the large increases in port productivity since he led an attack on union control in 1998 were being squandered because subsequent owners of his stevedoring business, Patrick, gave up control of their employees to the Maritime Union of Australia.
"One of the fundamental problems in many industry sectors in Australia is that people take the easy option of managing through the union," he said.
"Every three years they have a bit of an arm wrestle, mostly over money, and the rest of the time abdicate responsibility to the union. If you are prepared to manage through the union then life becomes simpler - until there is trouble later."
Asciano and the union said they had reached agreement on all outstanding items, including a national disputes resolution clause. The company agreed to reinstate backpay from November 2010.
The agreement provides for wage increases totalling 22.5 per cent over five years. When taking into account backpay, the workers will receive annual pay rises averaging 4.45 per cent by 2015.
Provided they meet targets, workers will also receive an annual 0.75 per cent superannuation rise, increasing their entitlement from nine per cent to 12 per cent.
Both the company and the union insisted the pay rises would be very significantly offset by commitments of improved productivity at each of the (company's) four Patrick container terminals''.
The superannuation rises will be subject to the achievement of specific business and customer key performance indicators.
The agreement signals certainty on productivity and efficiency measures and will ensure productivity on Australian wharves lifts towards global benchmarks, enabling us to maintain a high standard of customer service,'' Asciano said.
Alistair Field, the director of Patrick Terminals and Logistics, said Asciano's objective had been to deliver productivity and efficiency improvements for our customers and fair and competitive conditions of employment for our workforce. A significant part of this has been ensuring the right to manage our business,'' he said. We would like to thank the minister for his persistent efforts and constructive role in engaging with the leaders of both parties to enable an agreement to be reached.''
Paddy Crumlin, the national secretary of the MUA, said the agreement demonstrated what could be achieved under the Fair Work Act as opposed to Work Choices.
The agreement ends a 20-month dispute that led to a wave of strikes, reported The Australian.
Union officials welcomed the pay rises and undertakings given around safety, while Asciano said the enterprise agreement maintained the company's fundamental right to manage its business''.
Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten, who recently intervened in the dispute, welcomed the deal, which relates to employees at Fremantle, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney ports.
Bargaining sometimes isn't easy,'' he said. However, today's news shows that when parties are willing to sit down and nut their issues out and seek the assistance of the independent umpire, positive outcomes are achieved.''
Veteran waterfront reformer Chris Corrigan slammed Asciano for selling out to the unions, according to The Australian Financial Review.
Parts of industry had surrendered to the union movement and given up trying to manage the workforce, Corrigan said.
Corrigan also warned that the large increases in port productivity since he led an attack on union control in 1998 were being squandered because subsequent owners of his stevedoring business, Patrick, gave up control of their employees to the Maritime Union of Australia.
"One of the fundamental problems in many industry sectors in Australia is that people take the easy option of managing through the union," he said.
"Every three years they have a bit of an arm wrestle, mostly over money, and the rest of the time abdicate responsibility to the union. If you are prepared to manage through the union then life becomes simpler - until there is trouble later."
Asciano and the union said they had reached agreement on all outstanding items, including a national disputes resolution clause. The company agreed to reinstate backpay from November 2010.
The agreement provides for wage increases totalling 22.5 per cent over five years. When taking into account backpay, the workers will receive annual pay rises averaging 4.45 per cent by 2015.
Provided they meet targets, workers will also receive an annual 0.75 per cent superannuation rise, increasing their entitlement from nine per cent to 12 per cent.
Both the company and the union insisted the pay rises would be very significantly offset by commitments of improved productivity at each of the (company's) four Patrick container terminals''.
The superannuation rises will be subject to the achievement of specific business and customer key performance indicators.
The agreement signals certainty on productivity and efficiency measures and will ensure productivity on Australian wharves lifts towards global benchmarks, enabling us to maintain a high standard of customer service,'' Asciano said.
Alistair Field, the director of Patrick Terminals and Logistics, said Asciano's objective had been to deliver productivity and efficiency improvements for our customers and fair and competitive conditions of employment for our workforce. A significant part of this has been ensuring the right to manage our business,'' he said. We would like to thank the minister for his persistent efforts and constructive role in engaging with the leaders of both parties to enable an agreement to be reached.''
Paddy Crumlin, the national secretary of the MUA, said the agreement demonstrated what could be achieved under the Fair Work Act as opposed to Work Choices.