THE MARITIME Union of Australia has announced a new batch of protected industrial action at DP World’s Australia terminals, and the company, in a statement, has called on the union to “come back to the bargaining table”.

DP World said ongoing industrial action “unleashed substantial delays and disruptions across Australia’s import and export supply chains”.

DP World said offloading a ship usually takes up to two days, but that timeline has extended to seven to eight days.

In a service update from Friday (20 October) shipping line ANL said the ship OOCL Miami on the A3C service is expected to be waiting for berth at Sydney for eight days. Because of this, the consortium agreed for the vessel to change port rotation.

Impending holiday season

The company said the disruptions and delays caused by the protected industrial action would create an “unsettling impact or the upcoming holiday preparations for countless households across the nation”.

The company said it had consistently approached negotiations with goodwill and had demonstrated flexibility.

“Our efforts to make progress in the EBA negotiations are encountering continued resistance,” the company said.

“The stance of the CFMEU-MUA Division is clear: they insist on the approval of all their demands, which would result in considerable financial strain on our company, impacting our clients, the Australian logistics network, and, in the end, the general Australian population.”

“Fantasy land”

MUA assistant national secretary Adrian Evans said DP World’s Australian managers are in “fantasy land”.

“The community is rightfully tired of being force-fed the same tedious nonsense year in and year out by billion-dollar multinational employers like Dubai Ports telling lies about hard-working Australian wharfies supposedly plotting to steal Christmas. It’s bullshit,” Mr Evans said.

“Their deliberate strategy of derailing good-faith negotiations by seeking wage cuts of 32% and outrageous roster changes that will enforce more night shifts and weekend work on our hardworking members without the appropriate compensation are what has triggered this dispute.”

Mr Evans said the union had negotiated without taking any protected industrial action for six months and the company refused to move on anything, they cancelled meetings and issued inflammatory statements to members.

“Five weeks ago we went to a ballot of our members for protected industrial action, which came back with a near unanimous ‘Yes’ from members, providing more than fair warning to the company that their shenanigans, tantrums and procedural manipulations during the bargaining process would not be tolerated, yet here we are,” he said.

“This is just the latest effort to derail the bargaining process, mislead the public and trigger an intractable bargaining dispute and run off to the Fair Work Commission seeking an arbitrated outcome. It’s dishonest and it won’t work.”

Company “committed to finding resolution”

DP World in its statement urged the MUA to reconsider its approach, engage constructively, and “prioritise outcomes that benefit not only their members but the broader Australian community”.

“While we respect the right to industrial action, its current trajectory will, regrettably, harm our workers through lost wages and impact the wider community through service disruptions,” the company said.

The company said it remains “committed to finding a resolution”.

“For the sake of constructive dialogue, we hope the CFMEU-MUA Division will reconsider its decision and suspend any planned industrial action during the negotiation period.”

Industry association Shipping Australia has expressed its support for DP World in the dispute and called for the MUA to resume negotiations.

In a press release, SAL noted the delays and disruptions that the protected industrial action is causing.

“It causes harm to our members – who are not parties to the dispute – as it can cost tens of thousands of dollars a day (or more) for a ship to just sit there,” SAL said.

“Strikes harm the trucking industry, as truckies cannot get their trucks loaded in good time. Strikes harm warehousing companies, distribution centres and everyone up and down the supply chain. Strikes hurt small businesses who rely on imports of much needed goods and equipment. Strikes hurt exporters and, especially, famers who need to ship perishable goods to market.”

Notices of protected industrial action, current as of 24 October

DP World Sydney

From Monday 30 October (0600 hours) – Bans begin for:

  • Stoppages of work of one hour duration commencing at 0500, 1300, and 2100 each day starting from

Monday 30 October at 1300 and finishing on until Monday 06 November at 0600 hours

  • Any work on ships for 8 hours after berthing
  • Attending work when called past usual notification time
  • Overtime
  • Shift extensions
  • Advanced or delayed starts
  • Delayed or advanced meal breaks
  • Work on subcontracted vessels
  • Fixed Salary Employees (FSEs) not working as per specific rosters
  • Performance of grade 7 work as described in the Stevedoring Industry Award 2020
  • Performance of work outside of roster panel assigned on 4 September 2023
  • Performance of work while any other employee whose employment will be covered by the proposed enterprise agreement is engaged in a rest period
  • Performance of upgrades on dayshift only

Friday 27 October at 0600 and finishing on Saturday 28 October at 0600 – Bans include:

  • Loading or unloading trucks and trains (receival and delivery of containers)

Friday 3 November at 0600 and finishing on Saturday 4 November at 0600 – Bans include:

  • Loading or unloading trucks and trains (receival and delivery of containers)

Monday 30 October at 0600 – Bans include:

  • Stoppage of work of 24 hours duration

DP World Melbourne

From Monday 30 October (0600 hours) – Bans begin for:

  • Stoppages of work of 2 hours duration commencing at 0400, 1200, and 2000 each day starting from Monday 30 October at 1200 and finishing on until Monday 6 November at 0600 hours
  • Any work on ships for 8 hours after berthing
  • Attending work when called past usual notification time
  • Overtime
  • Shift extensions
  • Advanced or delayed starts
  • Delayed or advanced meal breaks
  • Work on subcontracted vessels
  • Fixed Salary Employees (FSEs) not working as per specific rosters
  • Performance of grade 7 work as described in the Stevedoring Industry Award 2020
  • Performance of work outside of roster panel assigned on 4 September 2023
  • Performance of work while any other employee whose employment will be covered by the proposed enterprise agreement is engaged in a rest period
  • Attending for work when rostered to a four hour shift other than for the purposes of training or meetings

Monday 30 October at 02200 and finishing on Tuesday 31 October at 0600 – Bans include:

  • Performance of upgrades

Wednesday 1 November at 02200 and finishing on Thursday 2 November at 0600 – Bans include:

  • Performance of upgrades

Friday 3 November at 02200 and finishing on Saturday 4 November at 0600 – Bans include:

  • Performance of upgrades

Sunday 5 November at 02200 and finishing on Monday 6 November at 0600 – Bans include:

  • Performance of upgrades

DP World Fremantle

From Monday 30 October (0600 hours) – Bans begin for:

  • Stoppages of work of 2 hours duration commencing at 0400, 1200, and 2000 each day starting from Monday 30 October at 1200 and finishing on until Monday 06 November at 0600 hours
  • Any work on ships for 8 hours after berthing
  • Attending work when called past usual notification time
  • Overtime
  • Shift extensions
  • Advanced or delayed starts
  • Delayed or advanced meal breaks
  • Work on subcontracted vessels
  • Fixed Salary Employees (FSEs) not working as per specific rosters
  • Performance of grade 7 work as described in the Stevedoring Industry Award 2020
  • Performance of work outside of roster panel assigned on 4 September 2023
  • Performance of work while any other employee whose employment will be covered by the proposed enterprise agreement is engaged in a rest period
  • Performance of upgrades on dayshift only

Friday 3 November at 0600 and finishing on Saturday 4 November at 0600 – Bans include:

  • Loading or unloading trucks and trains (receival and delivery of containers)

DP World Brisbane

From Monday 30 October – Bans begin for:

  • Stoppages of work of 2 hours duration commencing at 0500, 1300, and 2100 each day starting from Monday 30 October at 1300 and finishing on Saturday 04 November at 0700 hours

From Monday 30 October (0700 hours) – Bans begin for:

  • Any work on ships for 8 hours after berthing
  • Attending work when called past usual notification time
  • Overtime
  • Shift extensions
  • Advanced or delayed starts
  • Delayed or advanced meal breaks
  • Work on subcontracted vessels
  • Fixed Salary Employees (FSEs) not working as per specific rosters
  • Performance of grade 7 work as described in the Stevedoring Industry Award 2020
  • Performance of work outside of roster panel assigned on 4 September 2023
  • Performance of work while any other employee whose employment will be covered by the proposed enterprise agreement is engaged in a rest period
  • Attending for work when rostered to a four hour shift other than for the purposes of training or meetings
  • Friday 3 November at 0700 and finishing on Saturday 4 November at 0700 – Bans include:
  • Loading or unloading trucks and trains (receival and delivery of containers)