The designer and builder of Australia’s twelve future submarines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with some of Australia's largest trade union organisations.
Naval Group Australia signed the MoU with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the Australian Workers Union, the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union, and Professionals Australia at the Pacific 2017 Naval Conference in Sydney.
The MoU outlines the partnership principles that will govern how the parties will work together in order to deliver the future submarine capability for the Royal Australian Navy on-time and on-budget.
A statement released by Naval Group indicated the organisations will engage in open discussions to identify opportunities relating to the planning, development and delivery of the Future Submarine Program (FSP), whilst developing, extending and protecting the Australian workforce.
Naval Group is committed to establishing an enduring, productive and globally competitive workplace relations framework that will form the basis for our Future Submarine operations in Australia,” interim CEO Naval Group Australia Brent Clark said.
“The construction of the Future Submarines in Australia will create a sustainable maritime industry, bolster the Australian economy for generations to come and create certainty for the many hundreds of Australian suppliers who will be involved in the FSP”.
The MoU also outlines how Naval Group will consult with unions, universities, TAFE and Registered Training Organisations to develop the skills of the workforce required for the program which is expected to create 2,900 Australian jobs.