Hundreds of unionists and supporters turned out to a rally on July 9, organised by , for workers who took 12 hours of protected industrial action in response to an ongoing dispute with Svitzer.
The company reportedly threatened to sack workers, back-flipped on agreements and is trying to slash conditions and remove the unionised workforce. The dispute started when Svitzer sacked its tug boat crews last December and replaced them with聽labour hire contractors.
Moreland socialist councillor Sue Bolton said she was 鈥減roud鈥 to join the protest to support Svitzer tug boat workers.
鈥淭he Maritime Union of Australia said this is shaping up to be as big a blue as the Patricks dispute in 1998," she said. "That鈥檚 why one of the signs said 鈥楶atricks 2.0鈥.鈥
Bolton said there is a 鈥渟trong spirit鈥 that this dispute can only be won by collective grassroots action. 鈥淲e cannot rely on politicians to solve the issue.鈥澛
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