45 tug deckhands control port hedland in WA one of the worlds biggest iron ore ports eg bhp,fmg and atlas exporting $100m per day.(lucky rio has another port). Deckhand wage $140,000 PA 4 weeks on,4 weeks off,no annual leave and a 12 hour shift per day.(i believe a 12 hour shift is standard for so called fifo workers where ever they live even if locally).
Or $2700 per week,52 weeks per year.
MUA wants better wages and conditions holding ballot to see if will strike.Not to be out done tug masters and tug engineers also holding ballots. 3 different unions.
a deckhand in singapore gets $75 per day.
AAC is building an abattior in darwin to export northern processed meat something like 250,000 head of cattle capacity.Aac trying to value add but will china,korea,japan,indonesia pay the price once unions get control. ps plse no comments on various cuts or types of meat required by ea country i am talking in general.
