Border patrol vessel sacks union workforce

A merchant vessel with a Federal Government contract to patrol northern
Australian waters for illegal fishing has sacked its crew of unionised
workers.

Gardline International, owners of the Triton, has informed the 20
Maritime Union of Australia members that their contracts will not be
renewed when it leaves Darwin port after maintenance work next week.

MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin said the seafarers believed their
places will be taken by non-union, foreign workers.

"What we do know is that this shipping company predominantly uses
foreign crews employed under unregulated Flag of Convenience
agreements," Mr Crumlin said.

"It is outrageous that a vessel that has won a government contract to
patrol Australia's water and protect our border security can dump their
unionised workforce - all of whom have passed the nations highest
security and Customs clearance.

"We believe Gardline will replace the Australian unionised workers with
UK seafarers unchecked by our Government and who do not hold Maritime
Security Cards."

MUA crew members onboard the Triton in Darwin are refusing to leave the vessel.

Bob Debus "World has changed"

Gardline International formally ordered 11 of the workers to immediately leave its 98-metre three-hulled Triton or else face legal action.

As the men refused, the Minister for Home Affairs, Bob Debus, warned Gardline that the Government was unhappy about the company's industrial tactics and asked the Workplace Ombudsman to investigate.

"They appear not to understand that the world has changed - the present government does not support the kind of industrial behaviour we are seeing here," Mr Debus said.