Sydney fast ferry passengers face possible strike disruptions
Manly Fast Ferry has warned it will be forced to cancel a large number of regular services from Friday.CREDIT:BEN RUSHTON
SYDNEY, Apr 11, 2019, SMH. Sydney commuters and tourists face significant disruptions to fast ferry and charter services operated by the NRMA-owned Manly Fast Ferry after ferry masters warned of stoppages for an indefinite period due to stalled negotiations over a pay deal, reported The Sydney Morning Herald.
The threatened action by members of the Maritime Union of Australia from this Friday is expected to comprise of work bans for half-hour periods. It will jeopardise the reliability of regular services operated by Manly Fast Ferry’s 11 vessels because the stoppages can occur at short notice.
The company, which the NRMA acquired 18 months ago, has the sole rights to operate fast-ferry services between Manly and Circular Quay. Its vessels also operate charter and other tourism services such as whale watching, which are likely to be affected.
Manly Fast Ferry chief executive Richard Ford said in an email to staff that the industrial action would force it to cancel a “large number” of regular services on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and there was the potential of further cancellations next week.
“Given the ambiguous and indefinite nature of the latest MUA notice, the only way we can guarantee a reliable service for our customers is to adjust our timetable,” he said.
The company will release a new timetable on Thursday.
Both sides in the industrial dispute will meet on Thursday morning but, if a breakthrough in negotiations is not made, will appear before the Fair Work Commission in the afternoon.
Maritime Union of Australia assistant secretary Paul Garrett said workers had given notice of their intention to undertake 30-minute work bans because the company had been unwilling to meet.
“There is no movement [on the pay negotiations]. We have tried since last week to get a meeting. They only came back last night and said they were prepared to meet tomorrow,” he said.
The escalation of the dispute comes just over a month after Manly Fast Ferry masters stopped work for two hours during a morning peak period, disrupting services and leading to some commuters being prevented from boarding vessels that were operating.
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