A series of strikes threatens to cripple Australian ports from October onwards. The Maritime Union of Australia has called for them to ask the terminal company Patrick Terminals to renew its labour contract, which expired 18 months ago.
Over 40% of all containers transported in Australia pass through the terminals PT operates in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle.
According to MUF, the union dispute is the only resource that Patrick’s employees have to make their case. The union has called on the terminal operator to return to the negotiating table to reach a fair agreement.
On the other hand, PT believes that it tried too many times to come to an agreement with the unions in almost 70 meetings. The company had offered a wage increase of 2.5% per year for four years, together with restrictions on the use of casual labour, but the unions did not accept the proposal.
Translation by Giles Foster