Tugboatdeckhands, represented by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), agreed todelay the threat of strike action late Thursday.

TheMUA said it would hold off industrial action for 30 days but would seek a30-day extension on an existing approval for a possible strike to allow moretime for talks with the tugboat operator, Teekay Shipping.

“Discussions between the two parties this weekhave been productive and both parties would like to see if we can reach anegotiated outcome without the need for industrial action,” Will Tracey, theMUA's West Australian secretary, said in a statement.

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