Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers
( since 1881 )
AIMPE
National Towage
Industry Delegates
Conference
Sydney
Nov 12 &13 2013
Role of the Delegate
Nathan Niven
Union Delegates
• A unionised workplace, with strong Delegates
presents a united front to employers wanting to
exploit workers.
• Union Delegates hold a vital position in the
Union. The Delegate has the key role of
representing the hopes, aspirations and rights of
their work colleagues.
• The Delegate can bring together the
individual creativity, skills, and knowledge
within a workplace to improve how a job is
done.
• At a time of rapid workplace change and
increased competitive pressure the role of
the Delegate is even more critical and more
necessary.
Role of AIMPE Delegate
The Delegates role is to convene on-board
AIMPE meetings, act as witness and speak-up
for other members, and ensure members seek
further advice from your Institute Official
before trouble gets out of hand. Better to get
advice early than after it is too late.
AIMPE Seagoing Delegates Handbook
Rights
• Fair Work Act
• Provides protections from adverse action
with regards to Workplace Rights such as
an entitlement under a workplace law,
award or enterprise agreement.
• Provides Protections for Industrial
Activities such as representing or advancing
the views, claims or interests of an
industrial association.
• EBA
* Svitzer EBA Clause 14 and PB Towage at
clause 35 Rights & Responsibilities of
Delegates
* The Delegate has the right to fair treatment
and to perform their role without
discrimination in their employment.
* The delegate has the right to formal
recognition by the company and its
representatives.
* The Delegate has the right to consult with
workplace staff and management and will be
given reasonable access around the workplace
to facilitate this.
* The Delegate has the right to reasonable
paid time off to participate in approved
forums and meetings with the company during
the employees normal duty cycle
* The Delegate has the right to relevant
training as agreed.
* The delegate has the right to reasonable
access to workplace equipment such as email,
internet etc.
Responsibility
• With rights comes responsibility. Delegates
need to act in good faith, and to do the best
they can for their colleagues together or on
their individual needs.
• Svitzer EBA & PB EBA includes:
* Acting in a courteous and professional
manner
* The responsibility to raise workplace issues
in a timely fashion
Role of AIMPE Delegate
• AIMPE Rule 43 Shipboard and Industry
Meetings
• Encourage Membership
• Dispute Resolution
• EBA Negotiations
• Port Negotiations
• Communication
• Attend MDM’s where possible
Rule 43 Shipboard and
Industry Meetings
(iv) The duties and responsibilities of such
delegate shall be as follows:
(a) To call and preside over members’
meetings. These meetings to be held
outside of working time unless a special
stopwork meeting is called for by the
Institute.
(b) To ascertain if all members are familiar
with all items of importance published
in the National Industrial Report and
“On Watch”
(c) To record and forward to the Institute any
motions passed at the meetings.
(d) In the company of another member, the
delegate is to approach the Senior
Employer’s Representative with any
requests or complaints arising from
motions passed at the meetings.
(e) To keep the Institute informed about the
progress or otherwise of these requests.
(f) To see that all financial members hold a
current membership card on and from the
1st October of each financial year.
(g) To see that all members attend the Day
Meeting whenever possible.
(h) To call special meetings to discuss any
urgent business if requested by the Institute
and to inform them of the result as soon as
possible.
Dispute Resolution
EBA Dispute Resolution Clauses
• Delegates need to be aware of the Dispute
Resolution Clause in their EBA.
• The procedures contained within these
clauses differ between Agreements.
• Dispute Resolution Clauses provide a role
for Delegates to assist.
EBA Negotiations
• Collect claims from members and forward
to Institute Official.
• Attend EBA meetings
• Report back outcomes of Meetings to
members and Provide regular feedback to
Officials.
• Advise members of the process
Port Negotiations
•
•
•
•
•
•
Know the Port Operation Procedures POP’s
Many disputes will relate to the PoP’s
Discuss the PoP’s at meetings of members
Participate in the Negotiation meetings
Provide feedback to members and Officials
Seek advice from Institute Officials
Communication
•
•
•
•
Information for Members
Key to Negotiations
Sounding Board for ideas
Keep Organisers informed of Developments
and issues.
• Avoid social media, i.e. Twitter &
Facebook.
• Avoid Company email addresses