New Zealand maritime workers back Fremantle port workers

The Mari­time Uni­on of New Zea­l­and is back­ing Fre­mantle port work­ers in their dis­pute with Qube Steve­dores.

Mari­time Uni­on of New Zea­l­and Nation­al Sec­ret­ary Craig Har­ris­on says the dis­pute has iden­ti­fied glob­al ship­ping con­glom­er­ate Wal­leni­us Wil­helmsen (WWL) as one of the drivers behind the scenes.

The Mari­time Uni­on of Aus­tralia are in dis­pute with Qube Ports Pty Ltd regard­ing the nego­ti­ation of a new Enter­prise Agree­ment in the Port of Fre­mantle.

Uni­on labour has not been employed by Qube in Fre­mantle since 30 July 2021, and scab labour has been used on five WWL ships.

Mr Har­ris­on says a sub­stan­tial fin­an­cial dona­tion has been sent to the Fre­mantle port work­ers to sup­port what he says is now a ser­i­ous dis­pute with inter­na­tion­al reper­cus­sions.

He says Mari­time Uni­on mem­bers would attempt to deliv­er a let­ter of protest to the Cap­tain of the Ther­mo­pylae, a WWL ship that will be com­ing into the Ports of Auck­land on Monday 20 Septem­ber.

Mr Har­ris­on says dur­ing lengthy nego­ti­ations between the MUA and the employ­er, Qube have laid respons­ib­il­ity for their refus­al to agree to claims around work alloc­a­tion, shifts, rosters and planned time off on their cli­ents includ­ing WWL.

He says the dis­pute with Qube is not about wages but is focussed firmly on provid­ing work­ers with a safer work envir­on­ment.

“The bar­gain­ing claims are primar­ily about improv­ing fatigue man­age­ment prac­tices and occu­pa­tion­al health and safety on the job while ensur­ing that work­ers have a prop­er work-life bal­ance.”

Mr Har­ris­on says the use of scab non-skilled labour in the dis­pute is entirely unac­cept­able to the Mari­time Uni­on of New Zea­l­and and its branches in all ports of New Zea­l­and.

“Ports of Auck­land has had sev­er­al deaths in recent years and as a res­ult our mem­bers feel very strongly about the need for high qual­ity health and safety, work­ing con­di­tions and work/life bal­ance.”

Mr Har­ris­on says the extremely high profits being extrac­ted by glob­al ship­pers were being made through the work of mari­time work­ers, who deserved safe work­ing con­di­tions.