Qube Ports maritime union strike ‘not an anniversary walkout’

Maritime union members at Qube Ports will embark on a four-day strike in Melbourne from today.

Containers stacked up high at Webb Dock unable to leave because of an industrial dispute. Picture: Michael Klein

Maritime union members at Qube Ports will embark on a four-day strike in Melbourne from today in protest at the company’s bid to terminate their enterprise agreement.

Qube said the strike would delay several car-carrying vessels and force the diversion of several ships from Melbourne.

The strike coincides with the 20th anniversary of the 1998 waterfront dispute and the April 7 lockout of 1400 Patrick employees. The Maritime Union of Australia last night denied the strike was to mark the anniversary, ­insisting the timing was a coincidence.

Qube applied last month to axe the Melbourne agreement covering 145 employees. If successful, it would be the first time an agreement has been terminated on the nation’s wharves.

Qube Ports director Michael Sousa condemned the strike at the Webb Dock car terminal as “pointless and damaging to shipping lines and customers”.

Qube provides labour for the unloading of car imports at the terminal.

“We have spent more than 2½ years negotiating and had 43 meetings with the MUA,” Mr Sousa said. “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.”

MUA assistant national secretary Warren Smith has said the dispute centres on the company’s refusal to reinstate a 7:1 roster — where employees work seven weeks and have one week off — removed during a downturn in business conditions.

“The company removed the roster in early 2015, saying it would revert when trading conditions improved, but some three years later volumes have increased but the roster has not been reinstated,’’ he said.

But Mr Sousa said the MUA was demanding the reintroduction of an uneconomic roster that had not been in use since 2014.

“As a result of the ongoing dispute, Qube Ports has been forced to seek the termination of the current enterprise agreement,’’ he said.

“If Qube’s application is ­accepted by the Fair Work Commission we will seek to renegotiate a new enterprise agreement in line with the award.”

In a statement, the MUA said Qube had provoked a dispute by applying to terminate the agreement.

“It’s clear that we need to change the rules, consistent with the ACTU’s campaign,” it said.

“They are the latest employer to aggressively attack workers and their union.

“The MUA will not stand by and let our members be the subject to this attempt to cut their wages in half.

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