Walk-off at submarine site

By Chris Spindler

Adelaide -- Some 200 Automotive, Metal and Engineering Union members at the Osborne submarine construction site struck on February 11 after the Australian Submarine Corporation classified technicians at the site as “staff”.

The effect of this is to leave technicians out of negotiations for a new enterprise agreement. They would have to work at wage rates determined by almost individual productivity quotas.

The ASC has claimed that the union is using the tight production schedule to “get its way”. The ASC classifies the technicians under a different award to other AMEU members.

Mick Tumbers, AMEU state secretary, said the union was not going to turn its back on its members. “Staff” was an employer concept, and the technicians should be included in the negotiations.

The strike, following two weeks of overtime bans, will last until at least February 15.

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