Container ships abort Melbourne ports over Qube worker strike action

CONTAINER ships have been forced to abort Melbourne ports due to damaging strike action by maritime union members.

CONTAINER ships have been forced to abort Melbourne ports due to damaging strike action by maritime union members.

Qube workers began their four-day protest at Webb Dock on Thursday in response to the company’s bid to terminate their enterprise agreement.

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The decision follows years of failed negotiations with the union over worker pay and conditions.

Qube Ports Director Michael Sousa slammed the protest as “pointless and damaging” to shipping lines and customers.

Qube Ports Director Michael Sousa slammed the protest as “pointless and damaging” to shipping lines and customers. Picture: Michael Klein

“We have spent more than two and a half years negotiating and had 43 meetings with the MUA. We have moved from having to reduce pay to being able to offer pay rises of close to 10 per cent over the next four years,” he said.

The dispute mainly centres around the company’s decision not to reinstate a 7:1 roster — where employees work seven weeks and have one week off.

In a statement, Qube described the roster as “uneconomic” and that it had been in use since 2014.

An MUA spokesman said the company provoked the dispute by terminating the enterprise agreement.

“The Qube members are taking legal industrial action and will stand up and fight back against this vicious attack by employers.”

The strike has delayed a number of car carrying vessels and forced the diversion of several ships from Melbourne.

Australian Logistics Council Managing Director Michael Kilgariff said the public will bear the cost of the protest — which is the second in three weeks.

“The resulting delays in freight movement simply engender higher shipping costs, which in turn means

higher consumer prices being paid by all,” he said.

The MUA denied it had staged the protest to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the waterfront dispute and April 7 lockout of 14000 Patrick employees.
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