Logistics giant Qube has taken the extraordinary step of suing 20 of its own employees for damages that could run into tens of thousands of dollars, claiming the union members’ week-long refusal to handle cars and machinery from a Norwegian-owned vessel was unlawful.

Qube has been trying to renegotiate 19 enterprise bargaining agreements around Australia with employees in its ports business, which does not include its half-owned container stevedoring operations Patrick.