Svitzer Australia - Fair Work Commission steps in to review lockout – UPDATE 7

As outlined in member notice Svitzer Australia - drastic measure to lockout all crews - UPDATE 6, Svitzer Australia took the drastic action yesterday to notify three maritime unions and relevant staff at 17 ports across Australia of its intention to lockout all crews covered by its 2016 Enterprise Agreement, effective from noon this Friday.
 
A response from the Maritime Union of Australia is available in their most recent media release,
 
With no immediate resolution evident, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) joined other peak trade and commodity representative bodies with escalation of media coverage and advocacy to the office of The Hon. Tony Burke (Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) via senior staff at the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
 
In what is encouraging news, advice has been received earlier this evening that the Fair Work Commission will hold a hearing tomorrow at midday in relation to the proposed lockout. 
 
It is understood that if termination orders are made at tomorrow's hearing, it will end all Protected Industrial Action and will initiate arbitration of the bargaining claims.
 
FTA / APSA will continue to keep members up to date on pertinent developments.

Paul Zalai - Director FTA | Secretariat APSA | Director GSF