AREEA chief executive Steve Knott wrote this editorial for readers of Gas Today and attendees of the 2014 Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) Conference
Many readers of Gas Today and attendees of the 2014 APPEA Conference will be aware that 21 vessel operator employers, all of whom provide critical maritime support services to Australia’s offshore oil and gas sector, remain locked in robust negotiations with the Maritime Union of Australia for new enterprise agreements covering approximately 2,500 workers.
The Australian Mines and Metals Association (AREEA) has been collectively representing the maritime industry in these negotiations with the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) for more than 12 months now. While workplace bargaining of this scale involves a great deal of industrial relations and legal complexity, the ongoing delay in finalising this matter simply comes down to the union’s conduct and approach.
