Union ’disappointed’ in GeelongPort’s decision to make eight roles redundant

Six people are expected to lose their jobs at GeelongPort, with the maritime union slamming the cuts.

GeelongPort at the North Geelong Port. Picture: Brad Fleet

Eight roles are expected to be made redundant in GeelongPort’s infrastructure team, resulting in six people losing their jobs.

Maritime Union of Australia deputy secretary of the Victorian branch David Ball said the redundancies were “disappointing”.

Mr Ball said the decision to make eight roles redundant, two of which he understood were not currently filled, was based on saving costs.

“I would argue they are not genuine redundancies,” he said.

“A redundancy is when the job no longer exists, these jobs clearly do exist.

“They will be engaging subcontractors to do that work.”

A GeelongPort spokeswoman said the company had commenced a “significant change consultation process” with six employees in the port’s infrastructure team.

“We are currently providing support to the six team members as we work through this consultation process,” she said.

Mr Ball said as GeelongPort went from strength to strength it was a disgrace for six people to lose their jobs.

Mr Ball said the infrastructure team included wharf carpenters, plumbers, welders and electricians.

He said they were always busy with maintenance, repairs and small projects such as redeveloping car parks, fixing fences and installing safety barriers.

“From my perspective a full-time workforce takes ownership over the facility,” he said.

“I would have thought directly employed employees do a much better job than subcontractors.”

He said the port had slowly been subcontracting work over the years.

“They have loads of opportunities and loads of strengths and I cannot believe sacking six people is something they need to do,” he said.

“There’s ships waiting at anchor to go into Lascelles Wharf, they have 22ha in addition to what they currently have which they are going to develop and have the opportunity to choose what direction to go.”

Mr Ball said it had been less than 12 months since a four-year enterprise agreement had been negotiated with GeelongPort.

“There was no mention of making them redundant at that stage,” he said.

“It’s disappointing to get to this point where these guys are going to lose their jobs and those jobs will be subcontracted out.”

Originally published as Union ’disappointed’ in GeelongPort’s decision to make eight roles redundant