A NATIONWIDE strike of tugboat engineers is continuing with ports in New South Wales and Western Australia affected, says Martin Byrne from the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers.
The strikes are part of an ongoing dispute with the international towage company Svitzer, reported Australia's ABC News.
"Svitzer is the major operator and certainly it is the only operator of large commercial tugs in Sydney, Botany, Fremantle and Kwinana," Mr Byrne said.
Mr Byrne said four more ports would be affected tomorrow. Last week, ports in Newcastle, Sydney, Geelong, Brisbane and Melbourne were affected.
The industrial action comes after unsuccessful negotiations for a new enterprise agreement, with engineers rejecting attempts by Svitzer to bring them under the same agreement as deckhands and tugboat skippers.
Mr Byrne said almost all of the commercial shipping in the four ports targeted today would be affected, with exemptions for cruise ships, military and those ships affected with safety issues.
TOWAGE
21 January 2016 - 22:43
Tugboat engineer strike makes life difficult for Oz ports nationwide
A NATIONWIDE strike of tugboat engineers is continuing with ports in New South Wales and Western Australia affected, says Martin Byrne from the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers.
TOWAGE
21 January 2016 - 22:43
Tugboat engineer strike makes life difficult for Oz ports nationwide
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