CATLEY CALLS OUT TRANSPORT MINISTER FOR ABANDONING WORKERS

Member for Swansea – Yasmin Catley MP has moved in Parliament that the Transport Minister back in Hunter workers rather than a multi national company.

 

Workers face being locked out of their workplace from Friday after the company walked away from negotiations with the MaritimeUnions. The actions of Svitzer risk unleashing chaos on the New South Wales supply chain, all in an attempt to cut workers wages by 47%.

 

The Motion moved by Ms Catley stated:

 

Mr SPEAKER:

 

I give notice that on the next sitting day I will move that this House:

 

  1. Condemns Svitzer Towage for locking-out almost 600 tugboat workers around Australia including Newcastle Port, in its push to slash their pay by 47% and casualise their jobs.
  2. Notes that Svitzer is a multi national company that funnels hundreds of millions of dollars overseas yet pays minimal Australian tax.
  3. Calls on the Transport Minister to stand up for NSW workers who pay their tax instead of getting on morning TV attacking them.

 

Ms Catley said ‘ The actions of Svitzer is wilful economic and social sabotage that holds the entire nation ransom to the demands of a company which is already making super-profits.’

 

‘My message to Svitzer is simple; in Australia we respect our workers and we bargain in good-faith.’

 

‘Get with the program or get out of our ports.’