The Guardian 22 February, 2006
Captain Cook discovers WorkChoices
Suspicion is growing that Captain Cook Cruises is endeavouring to be Australia’s first employer to use John Howard’s new work laws to cut workers’ rights. The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) smelt a rat after the company made a bizarre bid to strike a three-month non-union agreement rather than negotiate with its workers.
The company is refusing to negotiate with the MUA despite requests from a largely casualised workforce who want the union to act as their bargaining agent.
"We’ve got a lot of members who are employed at Captain Cook Cruises and they want us to represent them in this dispute", says MUA Sydney Branch Secretary Robert Coombs.
Following the company’s attempts to register the three-month non-union agreement the Maritime Union was granted leave to give reasons why it should be a party to the agreement.
"No one wants a three-month agreement, unless they’ve got an ulterior motive", Mr Coombs, said. Captain Cook Cruises then attempted to withdraw its application for the EBA but was stopped by Commissioner Raffielli who decided to hear the matter at a later date.
Mr Coombs says this shows how Captain Cook Cruises is prepared to put up every obstacle it can to avoid negotiations and suggested that the company was simply waiting until the regulations were in place so that it could take advantage of WorkChoices.