ID :
184908
Fri, 05/27/2011 - 14:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/184908
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Union and Patrick to resume negotiations
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and stevedore Patrick could resume pay negotiations next week after wharf workers returned to full-time duties at ports across Australia.
The union said Sydney wharfies returned to work at 6am (AEST) on Friday following two days of planned work restrictions over a pay dispute.
Workers in Brisbane and Fremantle were back to the ports by 3pm.
An MUA spokesman said the union had sent the company a letter asking them to get back to working out the pay dispute.
"We've rejected their written offer for arbitration earlier this week, we're inviting them back to the negotiating table," the spokesman told AAP.
"We're certainly optimistic that they'll be back at the negotiating table, we would think hopefully next week."
The MUA had planned a week of work restrictions in the three states from Wednesday after negotiations over a pay dispute stalled.
But the action was called off after Patrick refused to pay its workers for the work restriction days and denied them access to the wharfs.
Union officials met with members on Friday morning to encourage them to return to work, with national secretary Paddy Crumlin describing it as "a tough sell".
"They have been hurt at the way the company treated them in the media, and are frustrated and angry," Mr Crumlin told AAP.
Mr Crumlin also accused Patrick of running "megaphone diplomacy" and blamed the breakdown in negotiations on new management.
A spokeswoman for Patrick said that any agreement reached would need to include productivity offsets.
"We've been negotiating now for eight months, there's been in excess of 25 meetings, we are hopeful and optimistic that (we) will reach an outcome," the spokeswoman said.
"At this point we believe that the company and Maritime Union obviously remain some way apart."
The union has not accepted Patrick's offer of a four per cent pay rise over three years with an additional one per cent annually if "internationally recognised safety, productivity and efficiency targets" are met.
The MUA wants a six per cent wage increase and rises in other benefits such as long service leave.
Patrick director Paul Garaty welcomed the workers' decision to return to full-time work, but said they weren't heroes.
"Having held the importers and exporters in this country to ransom it appears the union want to be thought of as heroes for removing their own industrial action," he said.
The union said Sydney wharfies returned to work at 6am (AEST) on Friday following two days of planned work restrictions over a pay dispute.
Workers in Brisbane and Fremantle were back to the ports by 3pm.
An MUA spokesman said the union had sent the company a letter asking them to get back to working out the pay dispute.
"We've rejected their written offer for arbitration earlier this week, we're inviting them back to the negotiating table," the spokesman told AAP.
"We're certainly optimistic that they'll be back at the negotiating table, we would think hopefully next week."
The MUA had planned a week of work restrictions in the three states from Wednesday after negotiations over a pay dispute stalled.
But the action was called off after Patrick refused to pay its workers for the work restriction days and denied them access to the wharfs.
Union officials met with members on Friday morning to encourage them to return to work, with national secretary Paddy Crumlin describing it as "a tough sell".
"They have been hurt at the way the company treated them in the media, and are frustrated and angry," Mr Crumlin told AAP.
Mr Crumlin also accused Patrick of running "megaphone diplomacy" and blamed the breakdown in negotiations on new management.
A spokeswoman for Patrick said that any agreement reached would need to include productivity offsets.
"We've been negotiating now for eight months, there's been in excess of 25 meetings, we are hopeful and optimistic that (we) will reach an outcome," the spokeswoman said.
"At this point we believe that the company and Maritime Union obviously remain some way apart."
The union has not accepted Patrick's offer of a four per cent pay rise over three years with an additional one per cent annually if "internationally recognised safety, productivity and efficiency targets" are met.
The MUA wants a six per cent wage increase and rises in other benefits such as long service leave.
Patrick director Paul Garaty welcomed the workers' decision to return to full-time work, but said they weren't heroes.
"Having held the importers and exporters in this country to ransom it appears the union want to be thought of as heroes for removing their own industrial action," he said.
