The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) will embark on two weeks of strikes and work bans at DP World terminals nationwide starting on 06 October in a fight over pay, threatening disruption to supplies ahead of Christmas and an estimated $11 million a day in damage to the economy.
The industrial action is being taken as a result of recent breakdown in negotiations on a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, with work bans and work stoppages, including full 24-hour strikes, planned for DP World terminals in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne & Fremantle.
The MUA members delivered a 99%-100% ‘yes’ vote to every protected industrial action question across all four Australian DP World terminals, with a 92% participation rate in the ballots.
Industrial action will start in Fremantle on 06 October with a 24-hour stoppage, along with bans on working on ships for eight hours after berthing, work on subcontracted vessels, or working outside rosters. Wharfies will then take stoppages ranging from four to 12 hours on 07 October.
Melbourne workers will walk off the job for 24 hours on 08 October, followed by a 12-hour stoppage on 09 October, an eight-hour stoppage on 10 October, and a series of lesser stoppages in the remaining weeks.
Sydney and Brisbane workers will only engage in the work bans.
WORK BANS AT DP WORLD BRISBANE
07 OCTOBER 2023 (0700 HOURS ONWARDS) – BANS INCLUDE:
- Work on ships for 8 hours after berthing, advanced or delayed starts, work during another employee’s rest period from the proposed agreement, work on subcontracted vessels, FSE’s non-specific rostered shifts, work outside of roster panel assigned on 4 September 2023, early or later meal breaks, and attending 4-hour shifts except for training or meetings
09 TO 13 OCTOBER 2023 (0700 TO 2300 HOURS) – BANS INCLUDE:
- Overtime
- Shift extensions
- Deployment of more than two ship crane gangs on dayshift
Leading industry advocacy body Freight & Trade Alliance has posted a full timetable of planned action around the country – see this LINK.
DP World executive vice-president Nicolaj Noes said the company had contingency plans but stressed such action was significant for the economy and supply chain.
“We are committed to keep Australia’s economy moving and minimise disruption whilst we work to achieve a swift resolution on the enterprise agreement in the coming weeks,” he said in a statement carried by the Australian Financial Review – see this LINK. “We remain dedicated to a co-operative and productive dialogue with CFMEU-MUA division.”
The AFR noted that the MUA notified it would take similar industrial action at the same time in 2020 and 2021, in the middle of state lockdowns, disrupting imports for Christmas.
DP World commissioned research at the time that estimated the strikes would result in an output loss from imports and exports of $10 million day, which when adjusted for inflation would equal $11.2 million a day this year.
Bargaining meetings are scheduled for 17 to 19 October.
Read our related article on the 2023 Productivity Report .
As licensed Customs Brokers and International Freight Forwarders, Colless Young professionally handles shipping and customs clearance of all your import consignments by both sea cargo and airfreight. We provide a complete range of services including landed costings, quarantine treatments, trucking, warehousing and exporting. We are based in Brisbane and offer logistics facilities through all Australian ports and airports.
