That nonentity, Andrew Daniels, Mr Nobody, lackey of the unions, has been in office as premier of Victoria for five minutes, and the unions are shutting down Melbourne Docks.
Melbourne docks to shut down for 32 hours as union, DP World lock horns
Stephen Drill, workplace reporter
Herald Sun
December 10, 2014 3:51PM
A UNION war on Melbourne’s docks is threatening to delay deliveries in the lead up to Christmas.
The DP World controlled section of the docks will be shut down for 32 hours from tomorrow morning as an industrial relations battle heats up.
The Maritime Workers Union is taking legal industrial action with a rolling 24-hour strike from 6.30am.
DP World has hit back by locking out workers on Friday for eight hours in retaliation.
The dispute could lead to ugly tensions last seen in 1998 when Patricks tried to tackle the docks workers’ union.
DP World has sent a letter out to workers blaming the MUA for the delay in reaching a pay deal. “Their expectations are completely outrageous and the union has lost touch with reality,” the note read. “They still have over 50 claims on the table and are demanding a pay increase of 4.5 per cent.”
DP World has offered the MUA an 11.2 per cent pay rise over four years. But the union has demanded 18 per cent over the same period and better redundancy conditions amid fears the docks would be automated resulting in significant job losses.
The Melbourne strike coincides with industrial action in Sydney and Fremantle as the union ramps up pressure on DP World.
But Warren Smith, assistant secretary of the MUA, said workers were fighting for a fair deal. “All we want to see is a fair selection process for who is made redundant. Ultimately we want voluntary redundancies,” he said.
DP World said it was working to limit disruption to shipment deliveries.
