Call for federal government to intervene as dispute at major Australian port operator escalates
The port operator at the centre of a major industrial dispute in Australia is calling for the federal government to step in.
The dispute between the Maritime Union of Australia and DP World, which handles about 40 per cent of the nation’s freight, escalated early today when wharfies staged full work bans at the company’s Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle terminals, while limited work is being done at its Melbourne terminal.
The industrial action came as pay bans from the company began for workers who do not complete their full duties as part of the union’s campaign for a new pay deal.
DP World claimed the union campaign of industrial action has cost the economy $84 million every week since it began last September.
It said Port Melbourne was most affected by the stoppage and faced a $27.1 million direct and indirect loss of output.
And more disruption may take place next week as the Fair Work Commission is today expected to rule on flagged stoppages at DP World terminals in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle from next Monday.
If the MUA-protected action ballot order is approved, workers would then need to vote on the matter.
DP World today called on the federal government to intervene in the dispute to protect the national supply chain, which it claimed was already suffering two- to eight-week delays.
“The impact will also be felt by employees who are set to forgo wages, further exacerbating the negative impact of months of industrial action,” the company said.
The union’s actions show it has “little regard” for Australian businesses and consumers, the company’s Oceania vice president Nicolaj Noes said.
“We have negotiated constructively and made concessions, but it is clear the MUA is willing to inflict maximum damage to get what it wants,” he said.
“Government intervention is necessary to break this deadlock.”
But MUA assistant national secretary Adrian Evans said DP World, whose parent company is based in Dubai, had “squandered” opportunities during talks.
“All delays and disruptions are the sole responsibility of DP World’s Australian boss, Nicolaj Noes, who failed to attend any of the negotiations held this week.
”The company’s representatives continue to push for cuts to wages and conditions at the direction of their paymasters, the Dubai government, and squandered three days of meetings held this week with misdirection and obstruction.
”Customers of this multi-billion dollar company have every right to be frustrated with DP World’s refusal to negotiate but the MUA will not be bullied by the Dubai government and nor should anybody else.”
The long-running dispute centres around proposed rostering changes for wharfies at DP World, which the MUA says would result in pay cuts and additional weekend work.
DP World, which employs more than 1500 workers, said today’s industrial action will worsen delays in the deliveries of goods such as meat, clothes and appliances.
It said there has been a backlog of more than 48,000 containers at its Australian terminals since the dispute started.
But the company assured customers it would prioritise critical supplies like perishable food, medical supplies and humanitarian aid.
