SOUTH AUSTRALIANS RALLY TO SAVE SHIPBUILDING
AND SEAFARING JOBS

 

 

19 February 2016

South Australian Unions will be protesting in Adelaide today over the Federal Liberal Government's lack of commitment to our subs and its moves to offshore Australian maritime jobs.

SA Unions Secretary, Joe Szakacs (pron sock-arch) says not only is the government encouraging the offshoring of Australian seafaring jobs, but its position on submarines and ships is putting at risk thousands of jobs. 

"What we are seeing is death by a thousand cuts in our waters.  Hundreds of South Australians have already lost their manufacturing jobs on the subs and war ships, and now we are seeing the whole Australian shipping industry under threat."

Maritime Union Secretary, Jamie Newlyn says there are people living in the Federal seat of Hindmarsh who work on Australian ships and whose jobs are at risk because of the actions of the Turnbull Government in supporting the offshoring of seafaring jobs.

"The entire Australian merchant marine fleet of more than two thousand workers is at risk because of the push by huge corporations like Shell, Rio Tinto and Chevron to offshore jobs.

"We have seen it in Victoria with the MV Portland, whose Australian crew were sacked and replaced with exploited and poorly-paid foreign workers.  We don't want to see more "ships of shame" in our waters - we want fair and secure jobs that pay decent wages.  We want jobs in seats like Hindmarsh, not the offshoring of thousands of jobs."

Mr Szakacs said the union movement is calling on every Federal MP and Senator to sign a pledge to put a stop to this outrageous situation.  The pledge - "I'm Backing Australian Jobs" - calls on each member to support local jobs and fight for local job creation projects.

SA Unions Secretary, Joe Szakacs says the Member for Hindmarsh Matt Williams has to prove to South Australian working people that he will stand up for local jobs.

"We want to see him sign a pledge to prove that he will fight for locally-built submarines and ships, oppose Free Trade Agreements that sell out local workers, and stand up for penalty rates, which help South Australian workers put food on the table.  Mr Williams keeps putting local jobs last and unless this changes that's where voters should put him on the ballot paper on election day."

The rally will be held at the office of the Member for Hindmarsh, Matt Williams 10.00 am on Friday 19 February 2016.