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I have the pleasure to once again present a
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Australian Institute of Marine
and Power Engineers
( since 1881 )
FEDERAL PRESIDENT’S REPORT TO ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING 2006& FEDERAL COUNCIL 2006
Dear Members, won the case(s) to have Australian conditions
apply on those ships the Coimmission’s
jurisdiction to make such an Award was
I
have the pleasure to once again present a
report detailing the major activities of your deleted.
union over the last 12 months. You should know however that the AIMPE, joined
by the MUA, has made our own application
This year, as the Howard Government has to the High Court challenging those parts of
begun implementing its ‘WorkChoices’ ‘WorkChoices’ which set aside the jurisdiction
legislation to strip workers of their ability to of Australian Awards/Agreements outside
bargain collectively to any effect, has presented Australia. Until now an Australian ship trading
a great task to AIMPE officials. In particular it outside of Australia remained under Australian
has been important to drive as many enterprise employment law and our Awards/Agreements
agreements as possible to conclusion before remained in force no matter to where the vessel
the new laws came into effect. sailed. We cannot expect others to fight this
particular battle for us, hence AIMPE and MUA
I apologise that as a result of prioritising this must fund this legal case alone.
task some officials have had to defer action on
other matters and not all requests for assistance This battle must go on; if your union does
have been able to be responded to in a timely not fight for your jobs/industry then you have
way. already lost….none of us can afford to lessen
our efforts.
You will be aware that the State Governments Members of our union pay for these legal battles
are in the High Court challenging the right of the through our fees. It is imperative that all those
Federal Government to use the Corporations who benefit from these fights and normal EBA
power in the Federal Constitution to have pay-rounds CONTRIBUTE. It is imperative
‘WorkChoices’ strip the State Governments of that the membership ensure all those who are
their right [which they expressly did not give to eligible to join the union do so.
Canberra at the time of Federation] to legislate
in respect of industrial relations within their The moment that the union is unable to continue
State. The ACTU and several large unions this campaign, is the moment that those
have made additional applications on other who attack us, are able to replace Australian
grounds as well. Engineers/Electricians with Ukrainian and
Tongan ‘guest-workers’ as CSL and INCO are
In respect to the 2 INCO ships with Tongan- attempting to do.
crewing or the 2 CSL ships with Ukrainian-
crewing the Howard Government varied I invite all seafarers with resident-status to
‘WorkChoices’ in the last weeks before being ensure that the AIMPE is your bargaining agent
passed by Parliament, so as to ensure that if we in any re-negotiation to ensure YOU are not
replaced by cheaper guest labour.
1.Enterprise Bargaining Agreement portunity to counter-attack on relativities in the
(“EBA”) Developments next available EBA negotiations; we took that
view to the members and it is to their credit
1.1 MISA that they were prepared to make their own the
counter-claim on relativities.
T
here has been extraordinary rationalisation
of management or ownership of vessels in Thus it fell to the officials negotiating the
the past year, nevertheless the Institute’s Offshore EBAs to make that challenge.
2004 MISA EBA wage round is complete.
AIMPE has new Agreements certified in respect Phil Olsen will give the detail in his WA
of members employed by:- Branch Report, and as he was the only part
• ASP Ship Management [now includes of the negotiating team that did not change
the 2 INCO/Alcoa ships, plus 2 of the it is appropriate that I not steal his thunder,
CSR ships plus STOLT AUSTRALIA] however I wish to express my appreciation
• Adelaide Brighton Cement for those team efforts and my admiration for
• Cementco Shipping [now includes the the support of the members who took part in
other CSR ship, GOLIATH] the 3 rounds of industrial action in support
• Patrick Shipping[now purchased by Toll of their claims.
Shipping]
• Patrick Norwest Shipping [defunct; Shipowners bitterly opposed our claims on
replaced by Sea Corporation] salaries, and manning and hours of work,
• P&O Swire [but in February the but ultimately the support of the members
ARAFURA was sold and redundancies allowed us to win significant improvements
paid] [including higher wage-increases which now
• Teekay both MUA and AMOU will share…nor have
• Toll Shipping we asked that they should not].
• Trident [now includes the NWShelf Gas
Carriers]] However the claim to challenge AMOU rela-
tivities was not won……..it was always going
The urgent shortage of new-entrant Trainee/ to be hard, in the Offshore Industry, to fight
Cadet Engineers, and correcting the problems the battle that had been lost in the Dredge
with lack of structure in what is now passing for Industry.
Training, have also been taken up in most EBA’s 1.3 DREDGE INDUSTRY
with most employers undertaking to increase
L
the number of Trainee Engineers employed by ast year my Annual Report to AGM and
the company. Council carried the following simple
message in relation to Dredging:-
1.2 OFFSHORE
“I have requested a report from the officer
responsible for this portfolio area, but have
I
n 1975 the Maritime Industry Dredging
Award confirmed the long-established cus- not received it.”
tom of Dredge Chief Engineer and Dredge
Skipper on the same pay. The negotiations for the EBAs had commenced
The AMOU commenced an attack against this very early in 2004. The loss of parity for Institute
in late 2004 and was successful as the em- members in the Dredge Industry was never
ployers agreed to their claim to now pay more agreed to by any AIMPE official, nevertheless
to the Dredge Skipper than the Dredge Chief by late 2005 it had become fact…employers
Engineer. Were their apparent success to go had agreed to it and were applying it….. with
unchallenged then the AMOU would likely nothing being done in AIMPE to prevent it.
move on to the next sector and attack again.
AIMPE’s task in the Offshore negotiations was On 22 February 2006 I re-allocated the Dredge
made harder by the necessity to grab the op- Industry portfolio within the Institute.
The Federal Secretary held extensive meet- approach all relevant authorities with our safety
ings with members and with employers where- concerns so that none were able to say “….we
by we pressed our claim to re-insert parity of weren’t warned…”
Dredge Chief Engineer and Dredge Skipper on
the same pay. The Institute EBA for Griffin Venture is mid-
term, however that for Modec Venture 1, that
By letter dated 15th May 2006, but actually con- for Jabiru/Challis Venture and that for the Four
cluded 23rd May 2006, the Federal Secretary Vanguard are all under re-negotiation and that
and Andrew Williamson report that Dredge for Crystal Ocean expires at the end of July this
employers have now agreed to overturn their year.
arrangement with the AMOU. Employers are
now re-drafting the EBA to re-insert parity of 1.5 TOWAGE
Dredge Chief Engineer and Dredge Skipper on
A
the same pay. full report on developments in the tow-
age industry has been prepared by the
1.4 FPSOs Assistant Federal Secretary, Martin Byrne
however in summary AIMPE has continued to
A
fter the 3 Strikes by AIMPE members play the leading role in negotiating tug agree-
employed by Woodside on FPSO ments and maintaining employment standards
COSSACK PIONEER, and despite around the coast.
Woodside’s action against us in the Federal
Court (which cost us $30,000 to defend) For the past decade David James has been
members won their major objective of securing the AIMPE Tug Convenor [in addition to his
the position of Chief Engineer on COSSACK Sydney Branch Executive position]. David has
PIONEER for the life of the new EBA. done a great job and my thanks go to him for all
Our demand to re-instate a right to Study Leave his efforts in tug inspections, negotiations and
and re-instate repatriation to Eastern-States implementation of agreements. David’s contri-
finally led to reasonable offers in both being bution is truly appreciated. Without such input
made plus a number of other enforceable provi- AIMPE would not have been nearly as effective
sions where previously there had been none. as it has been in the tug sector.
Full marks to the Delegates and members
of both swings on Cossack Pioneer........you The 2005 Tug Delegates Conference elected a
stood up for your conditions, you stood up for new Tug Convenor Peter Toohey from the Port
your profession, and you did us all proud!” of Brisbane. I want to record my thanks to Peter
for stepping up and taking over these responsi-
Woodside’s new FPSO “NGANHURRA” will, bilities. Already Peter has been deeply involved
as we speak, be going on-location in the in the negotiation of the new Agreement with
ENFIELD oilfield 21 km from Ningaloo Marine Adsteam. A major highlight of the Agreement is
Park. However, though it will have persons the adoption of the concept of Compensation
qualified to be employed as Chief Engineer for Loss of Certificate of Competency for the
[and as Vessel Master], whilst the FPSO is on- Adsteam engineers.
location these persons will not be employed
with authority and responsibilities equivalent to New Agreements have been certified with AMS,
those positions. But when a cyclone emergency Adsteam and Coastal Tug & Barge.
disconnect is required they will suddenly be Negotiations are continuing with Teekay for
said to be the Chief Engineer [or Vessel Master] Port Hedland and Hay Point. Renewal of the
respectively. Port Lincoln Tugs Agreement for the SA out-
AIMPE can not agree to this and has taken ports is still in progress as is the finalisation of
the matter up with AMSA [who no longer an inaugural Agreement for the new Darwin
have jurisdiction], NOPSA [who are having a LNG tugs. In addition AIMPE is attempting to
prolonged think about the matter] and various obtain an Agreement with Alcan for the Gove
Ministers. We will not sign the offered industrial tugs.
agreement and will at intervals formally
1.6 RESEARCH & SECURITY VESSELS 3. Membership System &
Administration
W
e are actively re-negotiating the agree-
ment covering the Aurora Australis,
T
he Administration staff employed on
Southern Surveyor, Southern members’ behalf has more than halved
Supporter and Oceanic Viking which expires over the last 2 decades with almost the
on the 30 June 2006. A log claims has been entire secretarial-assistance function having
presented to the company and we are awaiting long since been dispensed with and the voice-
the response from P&O Maritime Services. We mail telephone system may be less welcoming
are monitoring the impact on our members of to members but has cut costs of directing calls
the sale of P&O to Dubai Ports; at this stage and leaving messages.
it is business as usual and with P&O Maritime
expanding into Ireland with the purchase of The remaining Administration functions of the
its equivalent CSIRO vessels, the signs are union, including membership database and
positive for the continuation of P&O Maritime financial accounting for the entire organisation,
Services. are admirably performed by Peter Reddan and
Doris Vaarwerk.
2. Professional Standards and
Training 4. CONCLUSION
D
irector Professional Standards Jim
W
ithout the willingness of members to
Mallows continues his efforts on pay for their own national Engineer’s
members’ behalf to prevent the erosion organisation, these battles could not
of safety and certificate standards for Marine even be fought. Without AIMPE-membership
Engineers. As last year there remain numerous members’ conditions, members’ professional
concerns with the National Marine Safety standards and members’ right to work in an
Committee [“NMSC”] being ‘captured’ by Australian industry on Australian conditions
fishing industry and towage industry attitudes, would have long since have been lost.
yet we now seek to balance that somewhat
by Mr Mallows’ presence on NMSC’s Industry I am tremendously proud to report that once
Advisory Committee. again AIMPE members have stood together
in the face of successive attacks on their
The total re-write of Marine Orders 3 is far entitlements, their profession and their
from complete; there is much more work to be right to work in an Australian industry on
done to revert to a segregated approach so Australian conditions. Under John Howard’s
that Engineering provisions will no longer be WORKCHOICES only those workers who
affected when changes are made to nautical or can muster the will to continue to bargain
rating provisions. collectively and reject individual ‘agreements’
will be able to secure their jobs against loss of
Mr Mallows represents members on a wide wages, leave and conditions..
range of professional and training issues,
including his Board membership of TDT Stay united.
Australia, and many issues have been taken
up with AMSA. Terry Snee
Mr Mallows’ separate report provides more FEDERAL PRESIDENT
detail on these.
