High Spirits

Everyone on board loves the Spirit III -- even more so now the new enterprise agreement is up & running. What's more crew on the sister ships Spirit 1 & II voted to forgo a pay rise to create permanent jobs. But more passengers & shippers must also charmed by the Spirit if its Sydney sojourn is to become something more than just a splendid affair

Bass Strait, Spirit of Tasmania III, 20/05/04: Jill lJames is 'over the moon'. The letter came today. After 35 years always a casual - the last two and a half years with TT Line, she has finally got herself a permanent job. Thanks to the union.

"I'm going to frame the letter," said Jill. "But first I'll send copies to my two kids. I only did casual jobs while they were young so I could be there for them. But they've long since grown up and looking after themselves. I'm very, very happy to have a permanent job after all these years.

Half the 479 MUA crew that work the Spirit I, II and III are casuals -- 247. So when it came to negotiating the enterprise agreement last year, the permanent workforce wanted to do something about it. They'd all forgo a pay rise, contribute around $2,000 each for extra days off and at the same time create jobs - preferably permanent jobs for their workmates.

"We said we don't want monetary gains, we want more leave and we want more jobs," said Spirit I delegate Robbie Patience. "So we're giving casuals something and management have agreed that they'll take no more people on as casuals without sitting down and talking to the union first. It took a bit of negotiating but when it came to the vote we only had four against."

The enterprise agreement was lodged in the Commission on May 20.

Integrated rating seafarers Gary Tearle and George Goodale now work the Sydney run: "It was all about creating employment," they said. "If you get a wage rise by the time you get taxed it doesn't come to much. This way you are looking at creating some quality of life and more jobs for people."

"I give up a bit of money to get some leave and at the same time give someone else a go," says IR Robbie Brady.

It was under Howard Government policies and his Workplace Relations Act that casualisation took off Australia wide. Whether it's the Spirit, Sydney Ferries or TT Line, Patrick or P&O, it's the first thing in workers' minds.

"Try getting a bank loan if you're a casual,' said Mick Shaw, Spirit I.

The MUA is determined to reverse the trend of casualisation. The recent National conference of delegates determined that this is the priority issue for the union in all maritime industries.

Assistant National Secretary Mick Doleman estimates that by foregoing a pay rise, the permanent crew have created another 50 jobs.

"Crew complained about the heavy work environment on the Melbourne run," said Doleman. "This way they'd get more time off and at the same time give their workmates some job security."

In May all 22 integrated ratings were made permanent. And TT Line Hotel Services Director Gunter Schranz said seven stewards moved to permanent positions with another 15 casuals getting permanent part time jobs. Another 18 were made permanent in March.

"Whenever we can make people permanent, we will," said Schranz. "It's a seasonal business and we can't make jobs available in the off season. Making more jobs permanent is ongoing. If the EBA works for both parties it's working well. We have got three years to make it work."

One of the most important permanent jobs created in the EBA is the new full time position - Employee Assistance Officer that has been filled by Cindy O'Connor who comes highly recommended by the ACTU Organising Centre. Cindy will be based in Melbourne but cover all three ships. Her job is to help new people settle in, make sure they have the right training, improve working conditions, job satisfaction and morale, as well as deal with harassment, equal opportunity and occupational health and safety issues.

"It was a tremendous idea. The union suggested that with such a large workforce across three states working on 12 different swings and three vessels with predominately young workers, lots of them women. Someone was needed someone full time to deal with all these issues," said Mick Doleman. "Cindy will be good for the job. She suited the union and the employer. The company decided to put her on the payroll. She should be starting in the next few weeks."

TT Line is now the biggest employer of MUA seafarers and growing.

In recent years a second ship has been introduced onto the Melbourne Devonport service and in January the Spirit III made her maiden voyage to Sydney, the first time in 30 years a passenger ship has plied the east coast (the Australian Trader being the last ship to do the Sydney Devonport service back in the seventies).

Counting contract cleaning services and stevedoring in Sydney along with the extra crew needs around 300 jobs were created overnight - many going to young Tasmanians who had never had a job in their life. And just as shipping and tourism to Devonport has tripled, so has the Tasmanian economy

But it will take time before the Spirit III's long term future on the Sydney run is assured. The ship has been battling to keep to schedule some days during heavy seas, Sydney Devonport sea freight is yet to be fully tapped and the Spirit III has to compete with trucks running the Hume Highway. Tourism drops with the barometer in Autumn and Winter. And while the Melbourne run is government subsidised, funding for the Sydney service is capped.

"It's weak as water that the NSW Government doesn't get fully behind the ship," said MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin. "The Carr Government needs to realise this is about promoting NSW as much as Tassie."

The Daily Commercial News, May 20 reports an $8 million limit on funding underpinning the new Spirit service. But the government has put tens of millions uncapped on the ferry crossing to and from Melbourne to extend the Hume Highway through to Tasmania.

The Tasmanian Government reports passenger number on the Sydney ferry are 20 per cent below target and there has been some media speculation as to the long term future of the vessel.

In May Paddy Crumlin met with the Tasmanian premier to put the union position for ongoing government support of the vessel.

"We want long term permanent jobs for our members and will work hard with whoever to get them," he said. "Premier Lennon was fully supportive of the services, regardless of the initial problems."

"We've got a wonderful team on the Spirit III," said Shranz, TT Line. "It's an exciting venture. We're a bit short on passenger numbers, but we're only young and we're confident it will work."

The Spirit III is a happy ship. No one had a bad word to say, the passengers are happy (a recent survey published in the local press puts satisfaction at 94 per cent) and the crew are committed to making it work.

Crew on board the two Melbourne Spirit ships also agree the enterprise agreement is an improvement. TT Line has bought the local Devonport EdgeWater Hotel/Motel for them to rest between sailings. It's a day trip across the Strait or one night shift on the Spirit II and stewards have no cabins. Crew are now compensated but some still have cabins and a staff galley on their wish list for the next EBA.

"There's nowhere to kip," said Spirit I steward Michael Christodoulou. "We have to take turns on a couch."

But the gains outweigh the gripes:

Cooks and stewards working the Melbourne over night run who do not have a cabin receive $30 per day with further increases over two years. Those on the day crossing will also get free accommodation and $20 per day expenses.

Casuals, too, have much to gain. Under the new pay equalisation scheme, delegates will attend quarterly meetings to ensure they are all getting a fair share of work and pay.

And non-permanent crew get four pay rises over two years of the agreement amounting to 13.65 per cent. (Permanents forgo one and get a 9 per cent increase. As well all permanent part time and casual workers employed prior to September 30, 2003 will move up to the next salary level. Permanent part time employees will also go onto a roster for the first time. Casuals get an increase in employer super contributions from 11.5 per cent to 13 per cent. And casual port workers also get increased rates and penalties on evenings, public holidays and weekends.

Crew also get an additional 28 days off each year or 24 weeks on and 28 weeks off. And the union also won a training commitment from TT Line, with $10,000 in training sponsorships available each year.

All crew will have access to super under the Seafarers' Retirement Fund and the option of salary sacrifice.

Not only workers' rights but also union rights are enshrined in the agreement, with the MUA given access to any vessel TT operates. The company has also agreed to notify the union of any business decision that affects employees and to discuss proposed changes with the union.

Twenty days a year goes to union training programs and the ACTU delegates' charter is enshrined in the enterprise agreement. Delegates have the right to bargain collectively, the freedom to consult with members during working hours and the right to address new employees about the benefits of union membership. They also have access to telephone, fax, post and internet for union business. TT Line is providing all delegates with laptop computers. The union will also be involved in the company's induction process.

All crew get reimbursement of gym membership up to $200 per year, there's two couchette cabins per vessel, recreation and hobby rooms.

As well the 183 women crew get up to eight weeks paid maternity leave and up to 12 months unpaid leave. Super payments are maintained during their leave.

A workers' review council made up of delegates, union officials, chief IRs and management will meet every six months to discuss crewing, conditions and other issues.

Sydney Deputy Branch Secretary Glen Wood makes time to visit the Spirit III on most of its visits: "It's a good enterprise agreement," he said. "Everyone is happy with it. I'm confident the Spirit III is here to stay."

The EBA negotiating team comprised 30 rank and file delegates from all ships, Assistant National Secretary Mick Doleman, National Legal Officer Joanne White, Melbourne Branch officials past and present John Higgins, Kevin Bracken and Dave Cushion and Tasmania Branch Secretary Mick Wickham.