Maritime strike may damage economy: ACCI

[NAUTICART]

Maritime strike may damage economy: ACCI

By Jessica Stanic on Tuesday, 12 January 2010



Strike action by a group of maritime workers off the West Australian coast is putting Australia’s economy at risk, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has warned.
About 200 employees of Farstad Shipping in Western Australia’s north west, the Bass Strait and the Timor Sea, walked off the job on the weekend over pay disputes. The employees are also planning another strike today (Tuesday) after being granted approval by industrial umpire Fair Work Australia.
ACCI chief executive Peter Anderson said the pay dispute is causing damage to Australia’s off shore oil and gas sector.
“We are now at that threshold where a significant part of the Australian economy… is being affected in a substantial way,” he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
“I don’t think you can underestimate the damage that is done if Australia is not seen as a reliable supplier in this industry.”
Anderson has urged the Federal Government to step in and resolve the conflict before more damage is done to the economy.
The maritime union is demanding a 30 percent pay rise over three years, or up to $300 a day extra for the workers.

Maritime workers resume rolling stoppages < ----- for another article

[Ordinaryseaman]

The economy there must be less depressed than here! "The maritime union is demanding a 30 percent pay rise over three years, or up to $300 a day extra for the workers."

$300 a day more? Wow

Even with the exchange rate that's still about ... $275/$280 USD a day?

[RDEagan]

Can I catch a ride with anyone to Australia??

Ryan

[seahawk]

From what I saw when I was there 12 years ago Australia is a very expensive placed to live, but on the up side it is a very nice place to visit especially if you are pulling in on a US NAVY ship. The women just line up on the pier.Happy Times

[Ordinaryseaman]

I've heard that as well. Not surprising when you consider the minimum wage is one of the highest in the world...

One of my regrets is not pursuing a lead I got from a guy in hawaii a few years back. He told me about a job he had as a laborer at a diamond mine in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

They flew you in and out and provided room and board. They had to- as it was the middle of nowhere

Anyway- it was 7 days a week 12 hours a day- and like $40 (Australian) an hour!


At the time they had a labor shortage and were luring away mariners/submariners form the military bases down there- to the point where the Aussie navy had manning problems....

I'm still trying to remember why I didn't go

[NAUTICART]

Anyway- it was 7 days a week 12 hours a day- and like $40 (Australian) an hour!.....
I'm still trying to remember why I didn't go

OS,

If it helps, 12's (with no breaks) gets old quick.

[RDEagan]

But $3360 AUD a week doesn't get old any time soon! That's $3115 USD a week. Even if you "burn out" in a month, not a bad gig

Ryan