PM under pressure to intervene on ports amid more shutdowns
Peter Dutton has urged Anthony Albanese to intervene in the dispute between DP World and union workers, as the industrial action is likely to lead to shutdowns of major shipping terminals for at least another week.
Peter Dutton has urged Anthony Albanese to personally intervene in the dispute between DP World and union workers, as industrial action is likely to lead to shutdowns of major shipping terminals for at least another week.
The Opposition Leader said the situation was becoming “more desperate as each day goes by”, with DP World preparing to send home Maritime Union of Australia members who take industrial action on Monday.
Facing a war on two fronts, DP World is also being blasted by Australian traders for increasing its fees by up to 50 per cent from February.
There were complete shutdowns of DP World container terminals on Friday in Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle, while there were partial disruptions on the company’s Melbourne site.
The Australian understands DP World will not pay MUA members planning on using protected industrial action this week, with the potential for shutdowns at shipping terminals responsible for 40 per cent of Australian freight.
The MUA is banning its members from a range of measures this week, including working overtime, filling in for absent managers and taking staggered meal breaks.
The Fair Work Commission last week approved 16 hours of stop-work action for DP World workers, which may take place next month.
MUA assistant national secretary Adrian Evans said members were “available for work” on Monday, arguing DP World would be doing a disservice to Australians if the company “turn our limited bans into a lockout of its shipping clients and customers”.
The Opposition Leader said further protraction of the four-month-old dispute would have a “huge negative impact on Australians and on the Australian economy”.
“Companies are warning us about the impact of disruptions (to) supply chains,” Mr Dutton said in Melbourne on Sunday.
“It’s bad for Australian businesses because ultimately, if you don’t have the goods to sell, then you aren’t going to be employing staff in that business.”
Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke has resisted pleas to intervene and force the industrial umpire to make an immediate ruling on a new workplace deal, amid concerns the standoff has the potential to last another five months.
Mr Dutton said both Mr Burke and Mr Albanese should get involved in the dispute and help bring it to an end.
“Not only should Tony Burke intervene but the Prime Minister should intervene here as well,” he said. “The Prime Minister has the ability to pick the phone up to (call) the union leaders to get this sorted out.”
The MUA is pursuing a 16 per cent pay rise for stevedores over two years, in a deal that would see DP World staff paid nearly as much as the more productive workforce at rival Patrick Corporation.
The revised pay demand, formally lodged on the weekend, also asks for an 8 per cent sign-on bonus, a 3 per cent increase in superannuation and 0.25 per cent income protection insurance.
The company is understood to be furious with the offer and concerned the two-year length of the MUA proposal could pave the way for strike action across the nation’s ports from 2025, as the enterprise agreements of the three major operators would end in the same year, allowing for multi-employer bargaining.
Freight and Trade Alliance director Paul Zalai said the continued industrial action was having “devastating financial impacts on exporters and importers”.
But Mr Zalai said DP World was “rubbing salt into the wounds of our trade sector” for increasing its fees by up to 50 per cent from the beginning of February.
“DP World, without any level of consultation, has announced another surge in landside fees including exorbitant increases in terminal access charges from 1 February, 2024,” Mr Zalai said.
More Coverage
Coalition explores ‘legal options’ after Lidia Thorpe’s oath admission
The Coalition is investigating whether independent senator Lidia Thorpe’s admission she deliberately misspoke when she swore her allegiance to the monarch could make her ineligible to sit in parliament.
Pezzullo rebuke: ‘it’s out of order’
Prominent Order of Australia holders have criticised the decision to strip Mike Pezzullo of his honour and are demanding more transparency about why the action was taken.