Supervisors working at one of Australia’s largest defence manufacturers are continuing with plans to create their first union collective agreement – despite opposition from management. 

Port Adelaide based Australian Submarine Corporation delegate Lee Pike said the group, numbering around 25, could not understand why their requests for an agreement had been rejected.

“All we want is a ratified agreement which covers everything we’ve already got. But they (management) won’t come to the party on it.

Mr Pike said protection afforded to supervisors through a collective agreement was an important consideration in moving away from common law contracts.

“At the moment there’s nothing to stop them (management) from moving us to another site. They could turn around and say ‘we’re moving your job somewhere else’.

“Being a collective gives us the protection and security we haven’t otherwise got. In the past we haven’t had anything to tie us together. It’s been easy pickings for them to split us and create divisions.”

The supervisors, who oversee trades workers repairing and maintaining the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of Collins Class submarines, secured a majority support determination through Fair Work Australia in June. The ruling will force ASC management to continue negotiating with the supervisors.  

“There’s never been any major issues in the past. That’s why we can’t understand why we can’t have what we’ve already got ratified into a collective agreement,” Mr Pike said.

“We’re not asking for the world. We’re only asking for what’s fair. We want to be a collective and they’re trying to deny that.”

AMWU organiser Peter Bauer said the supervisors had shown great resilience in the face of an intrigant company.  

“Management clearly want to keep them on individual contracts but many of the supervisors have come up from the shop floor.

“They understand the power of the collective and they’d like to see a document uniting everyone. They’ll keep fighting until that can be achieved.

“Their growing organisation and commitment to collective action has sent a clear and positive message to salaried employees and other union members within the ASC. This is what’s possible when you stick together.”