Victory for the Triton 11

February 9, 2008
Issue 

The week-long occupation of the armed customs ship, the Triton, ended on February 3 following talks between the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (AIMPE) and shipping company Gardline. The eleven seafarers, known as the Triton 11, who had been sacked in an attempt to replace them with non-union labour, have been reinstated with permanent positions under a collective union agreement.

On January 31, Gardline had issued the crew with "unlawful occupation" notification. But the crew were undeterred. Mark Wheatley, a spokesperson for the crew, said, "We know everyone is behind us. We've got a lot of support. Everyone realises that. We wouldn't be doing what we are doing without your support. We want to express our gratitude to everyone around the coast — all the boys, all the ships, all the families who've sent in messages and emails. We want you to know that as long as you are behind us we are not going anywhere," in an MUA press release issued on February 1.

Barry Clapson, another crew member, said the number of emails the crew was getting from other ships alone kept them going. "It's been great. We've had so much support. The boys are terrific. Thanks. It means a lot to everyone on board. And the information and the feedback from officials and branches have been terrific as well."

The Triton 11 also attracted support from New Zealand. On February 1, Joe Fleetwood and Gary Parsloe, both officials with the Maritime Union New Zealand, flew to Darwin to join the community assembly held in solidarity with the workers. A letter of support from MUNZ general secretary Trevor Hanson read in part "contracting out experienced labour is becoming the employer's latest tool against organised labour. It is only six weeks ago here in NZ at the port of Napier that the port company attempted to contract all the container loading and unloading to a non-union, cheaper stevedore … Contracting out is an insidious action that must be fought and won. We are sure your current firm stand will ensure that you do."

Following the talks between the company and unions, the MUA's assistant national secretary, Mick Doleman, travelled to Darwin for a meeting with the Triton's crew. An MUA media release stated that, "Mr Doleman will recommend to the crew that they fully endorse the terms of the settlement contained in the heads of agreement".

On February 4 ABC online reported Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus as saying that the federal government hadn't threatened current or future contracts with Gardline but "drew attention to the desires of the government that anybody contracting with the government should treat their employees fairly".

Speaking to Green Left Weekly after the victory, Wheatley said "it's a pretty good result and we're all happy with it". He explained, "we've won union coverage for the three vessels operated by Gardline — the Triton, the Ashmore Guardian and the Oceaneer and that's coverage for the three unions the MUA, the Australian Maritime Officers Union and the AIMPE. This brings the officers unions who were previously subject to AWAs [individual contracts] under a collective agreement." Wheatley said that it was an important first win for the unions under the new Rudd government saying "this government's trying to get rid of AWAs but they can't do it alone, they need action from the unions to make it happen".

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