DP World Australia Prepares to Face Strike
Operations at DP World Australia (DPWA) container terminals could suffer significant disruptions due to the upcoming industrial action of local stevedores.
Operations at DP World Australia (DPWA) container terminals could suffer significant disruptions due to the upcoming industrial action of local stevedores.
Up to 1,800 workers will go on strike at Fremantle Terminal, Port Botany Terminal, Brisbane Terminal and Melbourne Terminal, commencing March 19, 22, 22 and 23, respectively, DPWA said after being notified by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA).
The announced industrial action is a result of discontent among employees over a new enterprise agreement DP World is proposing.
“Wharfies working at container terminals in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle are outraged after management at DP World Australia — the largest stevedore in the country — moved to strip them of income protection insurance unless they accepted the company’s demands,” according to MUA.
Stevedores were recently granted approval from the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to hold a ballot allowing protected strike action.
However, the FWC imposed a requirement that workers provide management five days notice before going on strike.
“The protected industrial action advised to date includes bans on employees working in tasks above their normal grade, overtime, shift extensions, accepting late call ins and no advanced or delayed start times. It also allows for one-hour and in the case of Fremantle 24 hour work stoppages,” DP World informed in its customer update.
