FURTHER industrial action has been announced for DP World’s Australia terminals.
DP World announced in a statement that the Maritime Union of Australia had given notice of work stoppages and bans from Monday 6 November until Monday 13 November.
This next wave of industrial action builds on work stoppages and bans announced last week for the four DP World terminals in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle.
According to DP World, at the Melbourne terminal there will be intermittent work stoppages of two hours, bans on overtime, shift extensions, and various other restrictions from 6 November.
In Sydney, DP World anticipates stoppages of work of one hour and 24 hours on specific dates, along with bans on handling certain vessels, overtime and other restrictions.
In Brisbane, the union has given notice of two-hour work stoppages, a 24-hour stoppage, bans on handling certain vessels, overtime and more.
And in Fremantle, two-hour work stoppages and bans on handling ships for eight hours are expected, among other restrictions.
DP World executive vice-president for Oceania Nicolaj Noes encouraged the union to return to the negotiation table.
“Due to the ongoing protected industrial action that is currently happening at DP World’s terminals, it is the view of DP World that we would welcome the CFMMEU MUA division to return the negotiation table so that we can have a bargaining agreement that is formed on good faith bargaining, that allows us to stop the impact to the national economy,” Mr Noes said.
“The protected industrial action that’s occurring from the MUA is having a large impact on both the state and national economy, and we’re looking forward to continuing our negotiations when the MUA is ready to come back to the table to negotiate in good will and good faith.
“DP World is here for the Australian economy. At the same time we work with exporters and importers and we want to do good by them.”
ANL in a service update on Friday 27 October revised the November schedule for OOCL Canada because of the planned industrial action at DP World’s terminals.
ANL expected the vessel to be waiting for a berth at the Sydney terminal. It has advised that OOCL Canada will now call Melbourne before Sydney “to avoid this delay and further disruption to the service”.
Maersk also advised prior to the latest industrial action notice that vessels calling the Brisbane and Sydney terminals would be impacted.