Qld’s largest coal port crippled by strikes as pay stoush intensifies

Rolling work stoppages by different unions covering hundreds of workers at Queensland’s largest coal port has caused delays in ships being able to load.

Gladstone Ports Corporation.

Queensland’s largest coal port has been kneecapped by rolling worker strikes for the first time in 40 years.

And the rolling work stoppages by different unions covering hundreds of workers has caused delays in ships being able to load up on coal.

Negotiations between government-owned Gladstone Port Corporation and about half a dozen unions hit fever pitch this week after both sides failed to reach an agreement on long-running pay negotiations.

It is the first time in four decades the heavily-unionised GPC has been hit by strike action.

The Australian Workers Union, Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, The Services Union, the Electrical Trades Union and the Plumbers and Pipes Union have been downing tools at different times and for different periods since Monday.

The unions and state-owned GPC have been locked in enterprise bargaining since May this year ahead of the EBA expiring in October.

It’s understood GPC — Australia’s second largest coal port — put on the table a 13 per cent pay rise across three years, in an offer in line with the wider public sector.

But unions are pushing for improved medical entitlements, superannuation, income protection and cost of living adjustments.

At least three ship loaders were down for parts of Wednesday, though its understood some have come back online.

A GPC spokesman said the company had contingencies in place and was speaking to customers in a bid to minimise business impacts while prioritising safety.

It’s understood GPC and the unions have been locked in negotiations on Thursday, with the possibility of a resolution as soon as this afternoon.