TASPORTS marine pilots are lifting their current protected industrial action, TasPorts has announced.
A statement from TasPorts indicates the change came into effect overnight on 29 January while enterprise negotiations continue “in good faith”.
The pilots, who are represented by the Australian Maritime Officers Union, have had work stoppages and bans in place since 19 January. The industrial action caused some cruise lines to bypass Tasmanian ports this past week.
But the AMOU is now lifting all industrial action including work stoppages on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays; a ban on conducting any work outside usual rostered hours; a ban on communication with agents and schedulers and a ban on the performance of pilotage services at night. All bans and stoppages had exemptions, including emergencies.
TasPorts CEO Anthony Donald said the decision followed constructive discussions on Monday (29 January) between TasPorts and the AMOU.
“TasPorts customers and Tasmania’s businesses need the confidence and certainty of safe and reliable port operations and there is no doubt the protected industrial action this week has been disruptive,’ he said.
“The decision of the AMOU and marine pilots to agree to lift the industrial action to allow negotiations to continue in good faith will be welcome news and we have informed our customers as a matter of priority.”
TasPorts and the AMOU have agreed to not provide further comment as they “progress toward an agreement”.
