Hutchison Ports sackings: union challenges text message sacking

The MUA is taking federal court action over the sacking of 97 workers via SMS, which has led to a six-day strike.

A blockade at the Sydney Port terminal at Botany after Hutchinson Ports Australia sacked workers via text message.

The maritime union has launched federal court action over Hutchison Ports Australia’s sacking of 97 workers last week, which has given rise to a six-day strike and picket line at container terminals in Sydney and Brisbane.

The union said it filed federal court papers this morning seeking an injunction against the redundancies, which are effective from Friday, alleging the company broke its enterprise bargaining agreement with workers when it sacked them by text message and email late on Thursday.

It is claiming penalties and damages from Hong Kong-based Hutchison over the manner of the sacking - workers were told they were redundant from August 14 but the company made it clear workers weren’t expected to turn up for their shifts the following day.

MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said: “The MUA is taking this Federal Court action because the union and the Australian public don’t think it’s good enough to sack your workers at midnight by text and email.

“This conduct by Hutchison doesn’t pass the pub test. We’re outraged and the outpouring of community support for the sacked workers suggests the Australian public is too.”

Hutchison broke the EBA with staff when it failed to adequately consult over the redundancies, and by ignoring the dispute resolution procedure set out in the agreement, the MUA is alleging.

The MUA has pulled back from its role organising the strike after the Fair Work Commission issued interim orders for the union and workers to end industrial action, however the manufacturing union was today coordinating the picket in Sydney with other unions expected to rotate in the role.

Attempts by the Commission to conciliate the dispute failed late on Monday, with the matter adjourned until Friday.

Hutchison’s media contact has not returned calls and questions from The Australian to the company’s Hong Kong office have gone answered.

The federal court will hear the MUA’s claim tomorrow.