DP World Australia is calling for an end to the disruptive industrial action affecting terminal operations at Port Botany.
The Port Authority of New South Wales, the Australian Maritime Officers Union (AMOU) and Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) have been negotiating over a replacement Enterprise Agreement for the Sydney workforce since February 2017.
A 24-hour stoppage scheduled for November 8, 2017, is the fifth of its kind since 26 September 2017.
The action proposed will suspend the use of the pilot vessels used to embark and disembark Pilots in Port Botany and Port Jackson.
DP World Australia Managing Director and CEO, Paul Scurrah, has warned that the ongoing industrial action is causing “mayhem” to shipping scheduling in Sydney, which has serious flow-on impacts around the coast of Australia.
Scurrah said: “Port Botany is working overtime during the critical pre-Christmas peak season.
“These efforts are being seriously hampered by the ongoing industrial unrest.
“We urge all parties to get back to the negotiating table to work out a solution, to stop the ongoing disruption to port services across Australia.”
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Stoppages have occurred on September 26, October 24, October 27 and November 2, with a strike planned for November 8.
The action proposed will suspend the use of the pilot vessels to embark and disembark Pilots in Port Jackson and Port Botany.
In an announcement on November 2, the Port Authority of New South Wales said: “Unfortunately these negotiations continue to remain difficult to finalise as the unions are maintaining a position which seeks employment guarantees that Port Authority is unable to provide.”
