ShipShape

SeaCare Under the Axe?

Shipping is a dangerous business, but despite this Australia has had another fatality free year, compensation claims are down, injuries and incidents reduced. This is largely the work of Seacare Authority which Assistant National Secretary Mick Doleman is a board member.

But despite the success of the scheme the government has chosen to apply a political review of Seacare. Its findings have been kept secret and the Minister for Workplace Relations (the responsible ministry) have passed the report to the Minister of Transport for comment. A union request for a copy has been denied access to the review findings.

The Chairman of Seacare and the unions have sought meetings with the ministers in September but what information we will be given is unknown.

New Line

Pan Shipping freight forwarding company has contacted the union to discuss its plans to introduce a new shipping service between Victoria and WA as a first step towards a possible three-ship container feeder service to include Qld and NSW ports. Assistant National Secretary Mick Doleman, Victoria Branch Secretary Kevin Bracken and Victoria Branch Deputy Secretary Dave Schleibs met with the principals of the company who gave more details in respect to the issues in support of their venture. While it is early days, the Union has given its support to the venture and the WA Branch has spoken to the relevant Minister who is keen to assist.

Job Watch

The Employment Assistance System is due to be finalised in September and will be available to all financial members of the Maritime Union of Australia.

It has been developed from scratch specifically for maritime workers to access via the internet. Anyone without internet access can go through their branches.

Members will be able to access and change their own contact details, see the numbers of unemployed or those seeking employment in a particular industry.

The system will also provide branches the ability to match qualified members to available jobs, by listing qualifications and certification "available from" dates as well as "leave expire" dates to ensure fairness in job opportunities.

"Vital to its success will be the willingness of employers to use and support the system," said ITF Co-ordinator Dean Summers. "We have been describing it to employers as a free electronic labour hire system. Talks with seagoing employers has been encouraging with the MUA scheduled to deliver a presentation to the offshore employers by the end of September."

The website will be accessible through a link on the MUA web page or through http://www.eas.org.au and operating booklets will be available by the end of September. Members wishing to register should contact their Branches at the end of next month.