TMS offer to MUA falls short

Date: 26 January 2010

Further protected action at Total Marine Services when offer fails to deliver negotiation points .

The Maritime Union of Australia today gave notice of further strike action involving the operations of Total Marine Services today after a formal offer by the shipping company fell short of what had been agreed in negotiations.

"It's not a step we take easily at this stage but when an official offer last Thursday failed to honour what had been agreed in meetings leading up to the offer, we had no option but to extend protected industrial action", said Warren Smith, assistant national secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia.

"Without going into detail, the overall increase in wages was short of what we had agreed in our official meetings as were critical phase-in dates for the increase", said Mr Smith.

"Last week the Maritime Union gave notice of protected action running 48 hours from midnight Thursday January 28 to midnight Saturday 30. Today we have given notice of a further 48 hours commencing midnight Sunday February 1 to midnight Tuesday 2.

"The Australian Mines and Metals Association was right about one thing in today's papers - the MUA did reject the TMS offer. But it was rejected because it was not materially the same offer we talked to the company about", said Mr Smith.

"We are ready to consider a genuine offer from TMS management that reflects common agreement and good faith bargaining. We are still prepared to consider abandoning the action subject to the company's shifting it's position.

For further information

Contact:	MIchael Meagher
Contact Mobile:	0410 482367
WWW:	http://www.mua.org.au/

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