It's eternally groundhog day when it comes to industrial relations between Patrick and the Maritime Union of Australia at Port Botany. Yet again farmers seem destined to be the main victims of the latest outbreak of industrial action at the port with the cancelling of much of the rail freight that goes there from country NSW.
Instead, freight will have to be offloaded at one of three intermodal terminals from the train onto a truck and then driven to Port Botany. What a joke!
Patrick said it had to cancel many 'train windows' because the Maritime Union of Australia was holding three stop work meetings a day, some lasting an hour, that made rail operations impossible. The company, one of Australia's biggest stevedores, says things will only escalate. Sound familiar?
Not only did we feel the heat from the explosion of the waterfront dispute in 1998, but there have been many disputes since. We thought lessons were learnt, but apparently not. Only last year the same dispute escalated in September until a truce was found. Last year no one could believe such a dispute could happen during a pandemic.
Not only has the world's shipping fleet been smashed by the pandemic's economic hit, but everyone is trying to get back or stay on their economic feet, especially farmers after three years of severe drought. Although it's not the bulk of farm produce that goes through Port Botany, there will be a hit down the line to someone, probably the farmer.
The MUA seems like it's picking winners, announcing an agreement with rival stevedore Hutchison. But it can't do the same with Patrick.
Already one of our main meat processors, Fletchers International, is considering moving its freight operations from containers to bulk because of the delays. Roger Fletcher says he had a gutful and has little confidence in export timetables.
The Land wonders where the umpire is. Deputy NSW Premier John Barilaro promised a whole new rail freight system at the port, but now we see industrial action, stop work meetings with trains delayed, shipping delayed and freight centres choked.
Why isn't there an arbiter to bring these warring partners together to solve the enterprise bargaining dispute? Does the Fair Work Commission not have enough powers to intervene for the sake of the economy?
Farmers are sick of being the meat in the sandwich, especially at these critical times.
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