The MUA was last week denied entry to a Carnival Cruise vessel, the Carnival Adventure, whilst docked at Sydney’s Circular Quay. The MUA reports that they were exercising their right of entry under s.121 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW). This section, an equivalent of which does not exist in the Victorian OHS Act, allows a WHS entry permit holder to enter a workplace to consult on work health and safety matters with, and provide advice on those matters to, one or more relevant workers who wish to participate in the discussions provided that 24 hours’ notice is given. The MUA confirms that Carnival was so notified.
Carnival’s response to the permit holders’ presence was to shut down the entire terminal. They later had security guards physically block the MUA entry permit holders as they sought entry to the vessel from a gangway. They have since written to both the State Government and the MUA stating they do not believe the NSW WHS Act applies to their ships in port.
As previously reported, the MUA have been investigating multiple whistleblower reports of unsafe and unbearable conditions on board Carnival vessels operating along the Australian coast. Reports include overcrowded conditions under deck, no safe free drinking water, being pressured by cruise doctors to continue working whilst unwell, high rates of skin disease and fungal infections, crew working in excess of 10 hours per day with some even reporting that they went more than 30 days consecutively without seeing sunlight.
Three Carnival vessels are home-ported in Australia and sailing almost exclusively in Australian waters. The company flies in workers from some of the poorest economies around the world and pays them as little as $2.50 per hour.
The MUA has been attempting to negotiate a workplace agreement to safeguard the rights of workers on board the vessels, but Carnival Cruises insists that they do not need an agreement and are refusing to engage with the union.
Be sure to visit MUA Australia for up-to-date information on how you can support the campaign to ensure that Carnival Cruises negotiate an agreement that ensures workers are treated fairly and their safety is ensured.
See more: MUA - Carnival Cruise Line in Panic Mode at Circular Quay