AUKUS submarine workers continue strike action at ASC

South Australian submarine workers have begun strike action at the government owned ASC maintenance and sustainment facility in Adelaide as they continue their long running dispute seeking pay parity with ASC workers in Western Australia.

The 350 workers, members of the AMWU, AWU and ETU, who began their protected strike action in early May took industrial action at midnight last night at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, bringing work there on sustaining Australia’s Collins class submarines to a halt.

Currently, ASC workers in Western Australia receive 17.5 percent on average more than ASC workers in South Australia, according to the AMWU, with the latest offer from ASC seven percent short of parity.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union SA Assistant State Secretary Stuart Gordon said: “Workers are frustrated with the company.

“ASC has said it would address pay parity and come to the bargaining table. But clearly the company has refused to do either.”

According to an AMWU statement, the unions have offered offsets, productivity improvements and cost-saving measures to the company.

The dispute comes as the federal government signed a $2.2 billion four-year deal with ASC to ensure the navy’s Collins submarines are still operational into the 2030s until their replacement by nuclear-powered Virginia Class submarines purchased from the US under the AUKUS partnership.

ASC and BAE Systems Australia have been tapped to construct follow-on AUKUS-SSN nuclear powered submarines at Osborne.

The navy has only half of its submarines at its disposal, with HMAS Sheehan, HMAS Rankin and HMAS Farncomb out of action for the rest of the year.

Gordon said: “Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarine fleet will serve an important role in our national security.

“The maintenance crew responsible for keeping these submarines in operation should be paid accordingly for the important work they do.”

Further reading:
Essential submarine workers strike over unequal pay
ASC snares $2.2 billion Collins sustainment contract

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