Dockers at the Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) in Melbourne have agreed to extend their industrial action which is due to start with a four hour strike on 16 February.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]Further legally protected industrial action is expected later this week as the dispute between the terminal, operated by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), of the Philippines, and the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) intensifies, with the union saying workers are battling for “A new workplace agreement that addresses excessive hours and unsafe staffing levels”.
However, the MUA added that while strike action and other stoppages and bans were in place the dockers had exempted medical supplies and fresh produce from the action, allowing these critical cargoes to be handled at the terminal.
“The Maritime Union of Australia has written to VICT outlining a proposal to ensure any containers that contain medicines, medical supplies, or urgent medical equipment are exempt from the industrial action,” said an MUA statement, which continued to say, “The union has also committed to exempting all refrigerated containers from the planned industrial action, ensuring agricultural exports, fresh food, and perishable goods are not impacted.”
Additionally, to try to minimise the impact on shippers, the MUA said it is “providing extended notice of planned actions” so that cargo owners can make alternative arrangements for their goods.
Industrial action due to take place at VICT currently notified by the MUA:
– a 12 hour stoppage from 6pm (Victoria time) on Friday 19 February;
– a 36 hour stoppage from 6am (Victoria time) on Sunday 21 February; and
– a series of work bans, including working overtime for one week, the use of personal phones for work purposes, and other specific work tasks.
Under Australian law, the union must seek support from membership for industrial action before proceeding with work stoppages and other types of action. A formal ballot of the MUA membership into 19 different types of action was supported by 100% of the voters.
MUA Western Australia Branch Secretary Will Tracey, who is co-ordinating negotiations on behalf of the VICT workforce, said, “The workforce had been left with no choice but to escalate industrial action in response to the company’s refusal to address unacceptable and unsafe working conditions at the terminal.”
Meanwhile, the carriers’ representatives in Australia have published a statement claiming that the MUA is looking to turn back the clock and to prevent operators from reaping the benefits of digitalisation.
Tim Vancampen, CEO of VICT, said he was amazed the MUA would even consider this sort of attack while the Victorian economy was already at a standstill owing to its third lock-down.
“VICT accounts for a third of Victoria’s container freight. The union is directly attacking VICT’s unique way of working as a modern, automated terminal. They want to take us back to the past, no matter the cost or the ill-considered timing in the context of the lockdown.”
Vancampen added that the terminal will be unable to operate its cranes on 22 February after the MUA had insisted that an “unnecessary” quayside supervisor mans each crane.
“These restrictive work practices would impose on VICT’s automated technology workplace organisation favoured by the [Maritime Union of Australia] that is still in place at manned terminals around Australia. VICT’s technology and Safe Working Method Statements allows the safe operation of cranes without dedicated supervisors,” said Vancampen.
VICT reports that it is assessing its options and will inform terminal users of the implications for trucking and shipping movements shortly.
Nick Savvides
Managing Editor[/s2If]
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