THE MARITIME Union of Australia (MUA) has hailed “massive wins” for wharfies delivered by new employment agreements voted up by MUA members at Qube ports workplaces.

The union said the agreements have now been “overwhelmingly” endorsed through ballots and meetings of MUA members in every state across Australia.

The endorsement of the new agreements reportedly delivers a four-year term, with 5.5% pay increases each year, along with significant rostering and fatigue improvements which the union said will provide a better work-life balance for over 1000 wharfies across Australia.

“This is the best agreement ever delivered for workers employed by this company,” said Warren Smith, the deputy MUA national secretary, who led the campaign.

“The agreements were won through months of consistent industrial action and hard fought members’ struggle.

“Wharfies held the line and won against the company’s intransigence and corporate greed.”

Speaking to DCN, a spokesperson for Qube said on the progress, “Bargaining has concluded and individual ports have recently been voting on new agreements. That process has almost concluded”.

The MUA was not without veiled criticism of the port operator, saying industrial action and the unity of the workforce gave Qube “no choice but to move from their hard line position of gaming Australian industrial relations laws”.

“Subsequently the MUA has offered an ongoing peace deal to Qube but at this stage the company has rejected proposals for a normalisation of relations, instead seeking to have workers work for free after taking industrial action through a manipulation of anti-worker laws,” the MUA said in a statement.

The MUA highlighted that multiple Federal Court cases remain live, including the suing of twenty Melbourne wharfies and MUA officials by Qube management, while at the same time a Qube Company director is being sued by the MUA.

“Workers should not have to work for free and be punished for industrial action, which is Qube’s position,” said Mr Smith.

“When this petty resentment is wound back the MUA will strongly support the process of normalising relations with the Company.”

“Wharfies employed at Qube have prevailed with new agreements in every port which strengthen conditions, deliver big pay increases, and offer vital work-life balance provisions that were long overdue,” the MUA said.

Highlights of the new agreement reportedly include;  

• 5.5% + 5.5% + 5.5% + 5.5% wage increases over four years

• 1% Superannuation increase above the legislated Super Guarantee

• 2pm allocation of shifts (instead of 4pm)

• 10 hour breaks between shifts

• 48 hour break when now reduced consecutive shift maximums are reached

• Paid Domestic and Family Violence Leave

• New rostering and Planned Time off provisions

• Income Protection

• Improved Public Holiday arrangements