Industrial action taken by staff members at the Australian National Maritime Museum has forced management back to the bargaining table following stalled negotiations for a new collective agreement.On the eve of Australia Day, CPSU members gathered around the entrance of the museum and entertained visitors with colorful banners and union sea shanties (“what shall we do with a bad employer?”). A corporate ‘pirate’ was also on hand to make honest employees walk the plank. Click here to see photos from the day.
While the strike activities were lighthearted, the decision to take industrial action was a serious one. After their agreement expired in June 2006, Museum management continued to frustrate the bargaining process by delaying negotiations and failing to reply to correspondence. Management also refused to meet with staff and CPSU representatives.
As a result of the industrial action, Museum management agreed to recommence negotiations for a fair and reasonable union collective agreement. Both CPSU and management have committed to lodging an in-principle agreement by the end of February.
CPSU National Secretary Stephen Jones said that going on strike was the last resort for the staff members’.
"These CPSU members tried time and time again to reason with management, they did all the right things, but got nowhere,” Jones said.
“Museum management admitted they were under pressure from the Government to reduce conditions and offer AWAs. This is just another example of how John Howard's radical new workplace laws are affecting everyone in the community.”
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