How lockout will affect Christmas deliveries

A major lockout of tug boat crews is set to throw the nation’s ports into chaos in the run-up to Christmas. Here’s how you could be affected.

An indefinite lockout of tug boat crews by the nation’s biggest operator threatens major disruption at ports across five states in the run-up to Christmas.

Here’s how it could affect the deliveries of goods to businesses and consumers.

WHY WILL THERE BE A LOCKOUT?

The country’s largest tugboat operator, Svitzer, is in an ongoing dispute with the union over an enterprise agreement.

HOW WILL THE LOCKOUT AFFECT DELIVERIES?

There are fears the lockout could cause further disruption to shipping ahead of Christmas, as well as interfere with the shipment of Australian crops and supermarket produce.

The country’s major ports could grind to a halt, threatening the supply of consumer goods and farm exports.

Svitzer tug boats at Port Botany. Picture: Jeremy Piper

HOW MANY WORKERS ARE INVOLVED?

Svitzer will lock out 582 employees across 17 ports in Victoria, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, from Friday, November 18.

No shipping vessels will be towed into or out of the 17 ports.

The company says it was left with no choice after union members employed by the company undertook 2000 hours of work stoppages since October.

There are fears the lockout could cause further disruption to shipping ahead of Christmas.

WHAT IS THE REACTION?

Maritime Union of Australia national secretary Paddy ­Crumlin accused the company, owned by international shipping giant Maersk, of “triggering a massive nationwide industrial conflict” that would throw already struggling supply chains into disarray.

“After almost three years reaping massive dividends from the supply chain pressures of Covid-19, Svitzer has amassed a corporate war chest to fund a damaging and disruptive lockout that

will now bring Australia’s ports to a grinding halt,” Mr Crumlin said.

Svitzer staff walking back along the pier in Balmain. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

NSW Transport Minister David Elliott has accused the unions of treating the Australian economy as a “plaything” as it was recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is not the time for unions to put a stranglehold on trade because we will find ourselves very lonely this Christmas with the difficulty of getting ships to and from our ports,” he said.

“This will be a difficult time and the unions are not playing fair.”