CARNIVAL Australia has stridently dismissed a campaign by unions led by the MUA to force the cruise giant to employ local crews.
The MUA has been joined its campaign — which has been running for several weeks in Sydney — by several other unions, including the journalists’ union the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance and have organised a protest to mark tomorrow’s visit of Carnival Adventure to Melbourne’s Station Pier.
Organiser Shane Reside claimed Carnival Cruises is paying its crew as little as $2.50 an hour to work on its three Australia-based cruise ships and exploits a loophole in the Coastal Trading Act by “flying workers in from some of the poorest economies on earth to work on short-term contracts sailing up and down the Australian coast".
“Workers have reported being made to work in excess of 10 hours a day for more than a month without break and going for weeks trapped working below deck without seeing daylight. It’s disgusting — this has got to be the worst labour exploitation we have ever seen, and it’s happening in plain sight,” Mr Reside claimed.
Danae Bosler, assistant secretary at Victorian Trades Hall Council said: “This is such an extreme example of what billionaires will try and get away with if they think no one is looking. The Victorian union movement has a message for Carnival Cruises: if you think you can bring your ships of shame to Melbourne without a fight you’ve got another thing coming”.
Adam Portelli, deputy chief executive from the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance said there were many Australian performers, musicians and backstage crew working on these ships alongside the international crew, and taking advantage of any worker via a legislative loophole was unacceptable.
However, in response a Carnival Australia spokesperson was blunt.
“Let’s call the MUA activity for what it is: an organising drive to increase membership and raise revenue for their organisation. They don’t care about our employees except to try to get a portion of their paycheck for their treasury.
“This so-called campaign is offensive to the dedicated shipboard team members who take pride in their work and in the culture of respect that defines Carnival Cruise Line.
"Our terms of employment meet, and in most cases exceed, the standards set by the International Maritime Organisation under the Maritime Labour Convention.
“The crew are further supported by free accommodation, meals, medical care, training, transportation, and other benefits. Furthermore, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority ensures strict international crew welfare standards are met through regular port state control inspections.
“Carnival’s shipboard teams include crew who have been with us for 30 or even 40 years — people who build careers with us, support their families through their work, and in many cases sail alongside spouses, siblings, or relatives,” the spokesperson said.
“We are proud of the fact that our retention rates lead the industry — in fact, more than 95% of P&O Cruises Australia crew stayed on with CCL, when P&O folded into Carnival last March. Their loyalty speaks far louder than the MUA’s claims.
“The Melbourne demonstration seeks to disrupt the experience of thousands of guests sailing to the Australian Open. This action is insulting to people supporting one of the country’s great sporting events that contributes jobs to the Victorian economy. We expect the MUA to continue with their lame tactics, and most people to continue to ignore their antics.”