Athens: Australia’s Fair Work Commission has ruled that industrial action taken by a crew onboard a Teekay tanker is not protected and that the crew must obey company orders to sail to Singapore.
The 36 crew refused to sail the Alexander Spirit (40,100 dwt, built 2007) to Singapore from Devonport, Tasmania on July 3, after being told they will be made redundant on arrival and replaced by foreign workers.
On Wednesday, Commissioner Ian Cambridge ordered the industrial action to cease, saying the psychological distress of some crew members was not grounds for an exemption under Australia’s Fair Work Act.
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) lodged an appeal to the commission, requesting an urgent hearing, but today Fair Work dismissed the appeal. The reasons for the dismissal will be disclosed at a later date.
The commission has ruled that no industrial action may take place for one month, which means the crew must now set sail for Singapore.
