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Cayman Islands News, Articles and InformationThreats of Fines for Workers are not the Answer to Australia's ...The ACTU today welcomed an agreement by the 17-member tanker crew protesting against the re-flagging of their ship to the Cayman Islands and the loss of jobs to foreign workers with the vessel's owners Stolt Australia.However the ACTU is highly critical of the Howard Government's role in the weeklong dispute and the fact that under the Government's new IR laws workers protesting the loss of jobs can be subject to large fines and potential jail terms. ACTU President Sharan Burrow said: "The Howard Government will not stand up for Australian shipping but is willing to support fines for workers that do." Under the Government's new IR laws the crew of the Stolt were threatened with fines of $6000 and up to 12 months jail for taking strike action in support of their jobs.
Sacked ship crew stand firm despite fines threatA group of seamen sacked by the owners of an Australian tanker docked in Hobart says they are prepared to risk big fines for taking industrial action over the issue. Eighteen crew from the Stolt Australia were sacked last night, as part of a plan to reflag the tanker under a Cayman Islands flag, and hire cheaper, foreign labour. The group are still refusing to reload the vessel or leave it, vowing to stay on the ship until they get their jobs back. The crew members have ignored union advice that their protest could incur big industrial relations fines. At a protest earlier today, spokesman Roy Muir said he and his colleagues hoped their actions would highlight the impact of Federal workplace changes on Australia's shipping industry: "1996 there was 104 Australian-manned ships, now we're down to less than half of that - if this one goes it's just another one so - shame Johnny shame," he said.Nothing wrong in $10m gain: NatWest trioTHEY are characterised by friends as middle-ranking career bankers dragged into an American scandal on a technicality. However, the NatWest three face awkward questions over how $US7.3 million ($A9.7 million) went from Houston to the Cayman Islands, then into their personal bank accounts.The charges facing David Bermingham, Giles Darby and Gary Mulgrew go to the heart of the fall of Enron, in which a small number of senior executives were able to hang on to fortunes despite 21,000 people losing their jobs. When Enron began facing financial difficulties, it established a series of off-balance-sheet ventures to raise investment and hide losses. NatWest invested in one of these, LJM Cayman. The NatWest three, who worked in the bank's structured finance division, are accused of recommending NatWest sell its stake for $US1 million allegedly for far less than it was worth.
Seamen's mission to keep their jobsCREW members of an Australian tanker docked in Hobart were last night refusing to load the vessel in protest against a decision to replace them with foreign workers. The MV Stolt, the only remaining Australian flagged and operated tanker carrying chemicals, is set to be re-flagged to Caribbean tax haven, the Cayman Islands.The vessel's 38 crew members will then lose their jobs to cheaper foreign seamen. The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) yesterday labelled the dumping of the Australian crew a national disgrace and blamed the Federal Government. The MV Stolt arrived in Hobart on Saturday night, docking at Zinifex zinc smelter to offload its cargo. Crew members yesterday chained themselves to the Zinifex gates. They also repainted the ship's Stolt Australia badging to read "Stolt TAX HAVEN".
Ship crew defended Aussie jobs: BeazleyOpposition Leader Kim Beazley has commended the crew of the coastal tanker Stolt Australia for successfully defending Australian jobs.The Stolt Australia had been docked at Hobart since Saturday night after its crew took action against moves to reflag the ship to the Cayman Islands and replace them with foreign workers. Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) national assistant secretary Mick Doleman says an agreement has been reached with the vessel's operators, Stolt NYK Australia, which guaranteed the workers future employment. "Labor welcomes the negotiated settlement of the dispute," Mr Beazley said in a statement. "Labor commends the crew and the Maritime Union of Australia for the stand they took to defend the role of Australian shipping on the coastal trade." Mr Beazley said the federal government's industrial relations laws posed the threat of massive personal fines and jail terms for unions members, for protesting against the loss of their jobs to foreign seafarers.
Tanker crew ordered to workCREW members involved in industrial action aboard the MV Stolt Australia have been ordered back to work.The Australian Industrial Relations Commission today issued an order for the 18 crew members to return to work by 5pm (AEST), as well as an order preventing further action. Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) Tasmanian secretary Mike Wickham said the latter orders would remain in force for one month. Crew members face $6,000 fines or up to 12 months' jail if an order from the commission is breached. Mr Wickham said he had not yet spoken to the workers, but the order could force them to break the law. "It's turned them into criminals for trying to save their jobs," he said. Crew members stopped work on Saturday night over moves to reflag the vessel to the tax haven of the Cayman Islands and replace them with foreign workers Workers heeded a plea from the Hobart Zinifex zinc smelter to load 9,000 tonnes of sulfuric acid yesterday but refused to sail this morning.
Protesting ship workers ignore threat of disciplinary action: unionThe Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) says a group of workers refusing to leave a chemical tanker docked in Hobart have received a letter demanding they return to work.
Eighteen crew members aboard the Stolt Australia are facing the sack, with the company planning to re-flag the vessel to the Cayman Islands and hire cheaper foreign labour.
The workers say the Federal Government's workplace changes make it easier for employers to off-load their employees.
MUA spokesman Warren Smith says the workers are prepared for a long fight.
"They received a letter, a threatening letter, that if they didn't continue on with the full operations of the vessel they would be subjected to disciplinary action," he said.
"The lads have decided the issue is so big, it's so fundamental to the future of not only their future jobs but the future Australian shipping industry, that they've got to take a stand." .
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