Jervis Bay strike near victory

Jervis Bay strike near victory

By Russell Pickering

WOLLONGONG — An end is in sight for the strike by 24 civilian support workers at the naval training base, HMAS Creswell, Jervis Bay.

The workers have been on strike and have maintained a 24-hour picket line for seven weeks over a federal government decision to contract out their jobs.

A meeting of the workers on October 30 heard a report on negotiations between the French-owned contractor, SHRM, the South Coast Labour Council and the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU).

The workers passed a resolution accepting a proposal from SHRM that guarantees employment and full award conditions for all the workers concerned at either Creswell or nearby HMAS Albatross. The resolution also states that work will not be resumed until the SHRM proposal is placed in writing and the few scabs who worked at the base during the dispute are relocated to another job. SCLC Secretary Paul Matters will take this resolution to SHRM on November 1.

An organiser for the LHMU told Green Left that a resumption of work under these conditions could be regarded as a victory since the workers were now guaranteed a continuation of employment with all award entitlements.

From GLW issue 121