The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has accused BHP and BlueScope Steel of using the January holiday period to quietly sack close to 80 Australian seafarers and replace them with $2 an hour exploited foreign labour on the Australian coast.
MUA National Secretary, Paddy Crumlin, informed that the union received information detailing MV Mariloula and MV Lowlands Brilliance would be dumped immediately – the last remaining Australian ships that have serviced BHP and Bluescope steelworks in this country for over 100 years.
“This is a national disgrace,” Mr Crumlin said.
“Many, many Australians have known someone who worked on the famous fleet of BHP iron boats, yet the company wants to end more than 100 years of proud trade by sending a couple of sneaky emails in early January.”
“One in eight merchant seafarers died defending this country in two world wars and their legacy deserves a lot more than this treacherous, underhanded attempt to dump Australian workers ahead of a federal election,” he commented.
The union has written to the company demanding answers.
“It is with great surprise and regret we received notice from BHP informing the impending removal of the MV Mariloula and MV Lowlands Brilliance from freight services contracted to BlueScope and consequently, their removal from Australian coastal and international trade,” the correspondence says.
“The decision has the potential to devastatingly affect Australian seafarers and will see BlueScope’s supply chain effectively removing Australian labour from the local Australian industry, being replaced by highly exploited foreign crews paid as low as $2 per hour.”
The MUA remains deeply concerned with BlueScope’s lack of consultation and discussion prior to BHP’s announcement, in addition to BlueScope planning to shut down a trade that has run successfully for more than 100 years, despite available alternatives.
The union’s letter states that they believe there is considerable availability of Cape Size Bulk vessels suitable for the BlueScope freight task currently performed by the MV Mariloula and MV Lowlands Brilliance.
“We urge BlueScope to utilise Australian seafaring labour in its local supply chain.”
“We note that during the period of wage freeze by workers including seafarers the company made a $1.6 billion profit,” the letter states.
Mr Crumlin said the move was particularly galling given the current shipping arrangements do not expire between BHP and Bluescope until June this year and that his brief discussions with company management had shed no light on the reasons behind the decision.
The MUA is now requesting a meeting with BlueScope, BHP, the Australian Workers Union and other maritime unions to determine the facts behind BHP’s decision to dump current shipping arrangements and to discuss what will occur between now and June.