Published: 1 Aug 2025
MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA
MEDIA RELEASE
1 AUGUST 2025
MUA Members at Teekay Shipping Vote overwhelmingly for Protected Industrial Action on Defence Vessels
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA)’s National Teekay bargaining representative, Mich-Elle Myers, announced today that MUA members employed by Teekay Shipping have voted in favour of protected industrial action, with an extraordinary 98% ballot outcome in favour of taking action.
Teekay Shipping is a major international shipping and marine services company, specialising in the transport of crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), refined petroleum products, and offshore support. Operating a diverse fleet of ships in Australian waters, Teekay provides maritime logistics to international energy producers, refiners, and importers as well as the Australian Government.
In a highly profitable and lucrative commercial environment for Teekay’s shareholders, the workforce has long been raising legitimate concerns about their pay and conditions being inconsistent with other operators in the Australian maritime sector, especially once the highly specialised skillsets and work of Teekay’s crews are factored into the equation.
Two substandard offers have been put on the table by Teekay but the workforce is rejecting these and insisting on a fleetwide agreement that includes all workers across all Teekay vessels.
Despite repeated union efforts, company negotiators have consistently refused to engage in meaningful dialogue on pay increases or improvements to critical employment conditions.
Members have made clear: without serious progress at the negotiation table, taking protected industrial action is their only recourse to secure a fair and consistently applied wage deal.
Forms of action covered by this ballot:
Protected action may take the form of:
Call to Negotiate
“We have lined up all the various ship-by-ship agreements to a common expiry date so that we can work towards a consistent, sensible and fair fleetwide agreement for the various crews, but Teekay are refusing to include Ocean Shield or the Mercator in the agreement. When we say we want a fleetwide agreement, we mean it. We cannot have a situation where crews move from one job or vessel to another with wild variations in their conditions of employment”, said Mich-Elle Myers, the MUA’s National Assistant Secretary.
“The MUA calls on Teekay Shipping management to return to the negotiating table without delay, with a genuine commitment to resolving disputed issues. Our members remain ready and willing to achieve a fair and sustainable agreement that ensures safety, fairness, and operational continuity. Until that occurs, they will remain steadfast in asserting their rights,” said Ms Myers.
ENDS.
