Mandatory Covid-19 jabs for DP World wharfies

Union says DP World’s ‘outrageous’ decision was done without consulting employees.

DP World’s operations at Sydney’s Port Botany. Picture: AAP

The nation’s biggest container terminal stevedore, DP World Australia, will mandate Covid vaccination for its employees and contractors, in the wake of a positive case at its Port Botany terminal that has so far impacted 100 workers and contractors.

DP World said on Thursday that employees as a condition of employment would have to show they have had their first jab by October 15 and be fully vaccinated by November 15.

Contractors will also be subject to mandatory vaccination as a condition of engagement.

The Maritime Union of Australia blasted the company’s “outrageous” decision, which it said was done without consulting employees or the union. The union’s Sydney branch recently told members wharfies should have access to the Pfizer vaccine as there was a “lack of public confidence” in AstraZeneca.

While it strongly encouraged members to get vaccinated, it also supported the right of wharfies to “simply choose not to have the vaccine”.

Following the positive Covid-19 case at the Port Botany terminal this week, 36 employees have been deemed close contacts and required to self-isolate for a minimum of 14 days.

A further 63 employees and contractors have been deemed casual contacts and can’t return to work until testing negative.

DP World said while the Port Botany situation “had a significant impact on our operations and risk exposure to our employees”, vessel operations and transport delivery had been maintained. Chief executive Andrew Adam said the company needed to ensure the ongoing safety of employees and continuity of import and export cargo.

“Applying the NSW Health guidelines, had all of the 36 employees been fully vaccinated, only four would have been self-isolating for 14 days, which would have meant negligible impact on our operations,” he said.

MUA assistant national secretary Adrian Evans said employees had worked through the pandemic, implementing a range of Covid-safe measures to keep the industry going, “most of which were opposed by DP World”.