The movement of up to 40 per cent of containerised freight in Australia including a raft of ag products is under threat just before Christmas as the maritime union launches national strike action against stevedore Patrick Terminals.
Patrick says it is bewildered by the strike action and has asked if the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has "lost the plot".
It says the union appears to want to "destroy" the company and the economy by the rolling strike action that is due to start this Friday.
The MUA justified the action saying "productivity is at a high and Protected Industrial Action is a last resort to finalise an agreement that is almost 18 months past expiry."
"Patrick employees are rightly frustrated at corporate tactics to deny a modest pay rise and remove previously agreed conditions on secure jobs."
Industrial action has dragged on for over 18 months during an enterprise bargaining period, in which the MUA says Patrick is trying to casualise the workfroce and prevent the MUA from continuing its long role in nominating wharf employees for rosters. The Union maintains it has done all it could to allow freight through the ports by dropping legitimate industrial action last year recognising the pandemic was hurting the flow of goods.
The legal strike action is expected at all of Patrick's terminals at Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Fremantle through October.
Patrick says it has been negotiating with the MUA since February last year and had held nearly 70 meetings in search of a new enterprise agreement.
Patrick CEO Michael Jovicic said: "The MUA is clearly embarking on a major pre-Christmas industrial campaign. For more than a year, we have been dealing with overtime and other bans at ports around the country.
"Last week they announced strike action at Port Botany commencing next Friday.
It is now that the union wants to engage in action that will adversely affect everyday Australians?
- Shipping Australia chief executive Melwyn Noronha
"Then late on Friday, the MUA hit Patrick with forty notices of industrial action in Melbourne in addition to industrial action and stoppages at our other terminals in Sydney, Fremantle and Brisbane.
"This means there will be continuous rolling industrial action in Patrick Terminal's Melbourne container terminal with strikes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday of October and impacts across all other days of the month."
Mr Jovicic said, "The MUA's actions are frankly bewildering. It seems to have completely lost the plot. This blatantly aggressive strike action demonstrates that it has no regard for the suffering of everyday Australians who have felt the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns, job losses and restrictions over the past 18 months.
"It seems that the union is trying to starve the Melbourne public of Christmas presents after all that Victorians have gone through over the past 18 months - it is truly mind-boggling."
Mr Jovicic said, "We have bargained with the MUA for over 19 months and provided a very generous pay increase, guaranteed no redundancies and provided a commitment to preserving jobs.
"They clearly have no intention of reaching a deal. They just want to cause maximum damage to the company and the economy."
Over 40 per cent of all container freight in Australia comes through Patrick Terminals and the industrial action "will have ramifications for all Australians".
The Peak Industry body Shipping Australia published an update: "given the central and vital importance of freight, shipping and ports, it is fair to say union-led disruption to their activities will adversely impact the lives of everyday Australians. It can really cause a lot of problems to large numbers of people who are not involved in the dispute. It's a mess".
Shipping Australia CEO Melwyn Noronha commented: "The national economy is under pressure because of the ongoing lockdown. Many Australians are unable to work because of lockdowns. And it is now, during these times of a twin health and economic crises, that the maritime union seeks to try and cripple the waterfront? It is now that the union wants to engage in action that will adversely affect everyday Australians?"
Patrick has offered the following to the MUA over the past 12 months: 2.5 per cent year on year increase for four years; guaranteed job security with no forced redundancies; commitment to preserving jobs with a focus on permanent roles; caps on usage of casual labour.
Wharfies are among the top earners in Australia already, enjoying wages well above $150,000 a year, for working, for many, not more than 200 days a year. For instance, an average full-time employee at Melbourne's East Swanson Dock on a 35-hour roster earns $151,048 per annum inclusive of bonuses and overtime. The average number of days worked for this is 162.
The existing top pay rates for example at Patrick Terminals' workers are :
Top 10 earners (full-time) - Average gross, including overtine and bonuses:
Port Botany - $212,325 - 224.8 days worked
East Swanson Dock - $187,920 - 178.2 days worked
Brisbane - $166,227 - 180.3 days worked
Fremantle - $192,373 - 203.8 days worked
The MUA announced on Sunday that members at Patrick Stevedores in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle will take protected industrial action following more than 18 months of negotiations over a new enterprise agreement.
MUA Assistant National Secretary Jamie Newlyn said management at Patrick had made a series of exaggerated and untrue claims about the breakdown of talks over a new agreement and instead of suggesting Christmas was at risk, the company should stop trying to alarm the public.
"The truth is there is ample capacity for other stevedoring companies on the Australian waterfront to load and unload cargo and we don't accept that there is any threat that imported goods will be in short supply due to the commencement of protected industrial action by our members," Mr Newlyn said.
Mr Newlyn said Patrick had claimed they would "roll-over" the existing EA but had insisted on changes that their workforce would not accept including increased casualisation that would limit future secure employment opportunities.
Despite claiming a loss of market share, Patrick are recording record profits by price gouging through Terminal Access Charges and other shipping fees which are adding to the cost of goods for customers and Australian consumers."
"Productivity is at a high and Protected Industrial Action is a last resort to finalise an agreement that is almost 18 months past expiry."
"Patrick employees are rightly frustrated at corporate tactics to deny a modest pay rise and remove previously agreed conditions on secure jobs."
"Had the CEO not intervened in the Port Botany bargaining, agreement would have been reached locally."
Mr Newlyn said instead of engaging in exaggerated PR 'spin' Patrick should return to the bargaining table and conclude a fair and equitable agreement with its workforce.
To show the extraordinary number of work bans and MUA industrial action notifications this year including those planned for October, The Land has obtained a full list of bans that will severely restrict Patrick's business - and the movement of containerised ag products just as harvest starts.
Patrick Terminals - Sydney AutoStrad
A ban on the performance of overtime at Port Botany (Sydney) from 6am Thursday 20th May 2021 for 14 days finishing 6am Thursday 3rd June 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions at Port Botany (Sydney) from 6am Thursday 20th May 2021 for 14 days finishing 6am Thursday 3rd June 2021.
A ban on the performance of upgrades and/or work in higher levels at Port Botany (Sydney) commencing at 10pm Friday 4 June 2021 until 10pm Sunday 6 June 2021.
A ban on the performance of upgrades and/or work in higher levels at Port Botany (Sydney) commencing at 10pm Friday 11 June 2021 until 10pm Sunday 13 June 2021.
A ban on the performance of overtime at Port Botany (Sydney) from 6am Thursday 3rd June 2021 for 14 days finishing 6am Thursday 17th June 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions at Port Botany (Sydney) from 6am Thursday 3rd June 2021 for 14 days finishing 6am Thursday 17th June 2021.
A ban on the performance of overtime commencing at 6am Thursday 17 June 2021 for a 14-day period finishing at 6am on Thursday 1 July 2021
A ban on the performance of shift extensions commencing at 6am Thursday 17 June 2021 for a 14-day period finishing at 6am on Thursday 1 July 2021.
A ban on the performance of work on vessels that have been subcontracted to or outsourced to Patrick Terminals by another stevedoring company from 00:01 on Thursday 24 June 2021 until Thursday 15 July 2021.
Stoppages of work of 1-hour duration at 0500, 1300 and 2100 each day commencing on Thursday, 24 June 2021 for a 21-day period until Thursday 15 July 2021.
A ban on the performance of overtime commencing at 10:00pm on Friday 1 October 2021 through to 6:00am Tuesday 5 October 2021.
A ban on the performance of shift extensions commencing at 10:00pm on Friday 1 October 2021 through to 6:00am Tuesday 5 October 2021.
A ban on the performance of upgrades and/or work in higher levels commencing at 10:00pm Friday 1 October 2021 through to 6:00am Tuesday 5 October 2021.
A stoppage of work for 24 hours commencing at 10:00pm Saturday 2 October 2021.
A stoppage of work for 24 hours commencing at 10:00pm Sunday 3 October 2021.
Patrick Terminals - Brisbane AutoStrad
A ban on attending work on days an employee is rostered as "off/avail" commencing from 7am Saturday 15th May 2021 and finishing 11pm Sunday 16 May 2021.
A ban on working overtime commencing from 7am Saturday 15th May 2021 and finishing 11pm Sunday 16 May 2021.
A ban on attending for work on days an employee is rostered as "off/avail" commencing from 11pm Friday 28 May 2021 and finishing 11pm Sunday 30 May 2021.
A ban on working overtime at Fisherman Island (Brisbane) from 11pm Friday 28 May 2021 and finishing 11pm Sunday 30 May 2021.
A ban on the performance of upgrades and/or work in higher levels at Fisherman Island (Brisbane) commencing at 11:00pm Friday 4 June 2021 until 7:00am Saturday 5 June 2021.
A ban on the performance of overtime at Fisherman Island (Brisbane) commencing at 11:00pm Friday 4 June 2021 until 7:00am Saturday 5 June 2021.
Work stoppages for 1-hour duration at 03.30, 11.30 and 19.30 on Tuesday 15 June 2021, Wednesday 16 June 2021 and Thursday 17 June 2021.
A ban on the performance of overtime from 0700 on Wednesday 23 June 2021 until 2300 on Friday 25 June 2021.
A ban on the performance of upgrades and/or work in higher levels from 0700 on Wednesday 23 June 2021 until 2300 on Friday 25 June 2021.
A ban on the performance of work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" from 0700 on Wednesday 23 June 2021 until 2300 on Friday 25 June 2021.
A ban on the performance of overtime from 0700 on Wednesday 30 June 2021 until 2300 on Friday 2 July 2021.
A ban on the performance of upgrades and/or work in higher levels from 0700 on Wednesday 30 June 2021 until 2300 on Friday 2 July 2021.
A ban on the performance of work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" from 0700 on Wednesday 30 June 2021 until 2300 on Friday 2 July 2021.
A ban on the performance of work on vessels that have been subcontracted to or outsourced to Patrick Terminals by another stevedoring company from 0700 on Wednesday 23 June 2021 until 2300 on Wednesday 7 July 2021.
Stoppages of work for 1-hour duration at 03.30, 11.30 and 19.30 on each day from Thursday 22 July 2021 to Wednesday 28 July 2021 (inclusive of those days).
Stoppages of work of 24 hours duration commencing at 0700 on Wednesday 21 July 2021 and 0700 on Thursday 29 July 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 0700 on Thursday 22 July 2021 until 0700 on Thursday 29 July 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 0700 on Thursday 22 July 2021 until 0700 on Thursday 29 July 2021.
A ban on the performance of upgrades and/or work in higher levels from 2300 on Thursday 5 August 2021 until 2300 on Friday 6 August 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 2300 on Thursday 5 August 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 8 August 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" from 2300 on Thursday 5 August 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 8 August 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 2300 on Thursday 5 August 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 8 August 2021.
A stoppage of work of 24 hours duration commencing at 2300 on Sunday 15 August 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 0700 on Thursday 12 August 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 15 August 2021.
Stoppages of work for 1-hour duration at 03.30, 11.30 and 19.30 on each day from 0700 on Thursday 12 August 2021 to Friday 13 August 2021 (inclusive of those days).
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 0700 on Thursday 12 August 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 15 August 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" from 0700 on Thursday 12 August 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 15 August 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 0700 on Friday 20 August 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 22 August 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" from 0700 on Friday 20 August 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 22 August 2021.
A ban on the performance of upgrades and/or work in higher levels from 0700 on Friday 20 August 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 22 August 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 2300 on Friday 27 August 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 29 August 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" from 2300 on Friday 27 August 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 29 August 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 2300 on Friday 27 August 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 29 August 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 2300 on Friday 3 September 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 5 September 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" from 2300 on Friday 3 September 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 5 September 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 2300 on Friday 3 September 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 5 September 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 2300 on Friday 10 September 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 12 September 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" from 2300 on Friday 10 September 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 12 September 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 2300 on Friday 10 September 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 12 September 2021.
A ban on the performance of upgrades and/or work in higher levels from 2300 on Friday 10 September 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 12 September 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 2300 on Friday 17 September 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 19 September 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" from 2300 on Friday 17 September 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 19 September 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 2300 on Friday 17 September 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 19 September 2021.
A ban on the performance of upgrades and/or work in higher levels from 2300 on Friday 17 September 2021 until 2300 on Sunday 19 September 2021.
A stoppage of work of 24 hours duration commencing at 2300 on Wednesday 22 September 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 2300 on Thursday 23 September 2021 until 2300 on Friday 24 September 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 2300 on Thursday 23 September 2021 until 2300 on Friday 24 September 2021.
A ban on the performance of upgrades and/or work in higher levels from 2300 on Thursday 23 September 2021 until 2300 on Friday 24 September 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 2300 on Tuesday 28 September 2021 until 2300 on Friday 1 October 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 2300 on Tuesday 28 September 2021 until 2300 on Friday 1 October 2021.
Patrick Terminals - Fremantle
A ban on attending work on days an employee is rostered as "off/avail" commencing from 7am Saturday 15th May 2021 and finishing 11pm Sunday 23 May 2021.
A ban on attending work on days an employee is rostered as "off/avail" commencing from 7am Tuesday 25th May 2021 and finishing 7am Tuesday 8 June 2021.
Work stoppages of 1-hour duration at 0600, 1400 and 2200 each day from 27 May 2021 (excluding Saturday and Sunday) finishing on 4 June 2021.
A ban on the performance of upgrades and/or work in higher levels commencing from 0700 on Saturday 26 June 2021 and ending at 2300 on Monday 28 June 2021.
A ban on attending for work on days an employee is rostered as "off/avail" commencing from 7.00am Friday 11 June 2021 and ending at 7.00am on Wednesday 30 June 2021.
A stoppage of work of 24 hours duration commencing at 2300 on Tuesday 29 June 2021.
A ban on the performance of upgrades and/or work in higher levels commencing from 0700 on Saturday 3 July 2021 and ending at 2300 on Monday 5 July 2021.
A ban on attending for work on days an employee is rostered as "off/avail" commencing from 7.00am Wednesday 30 June 2021 and ending at 7.00am on Wednesday 21 July 2021.
Stoppages of work of 24-hours duration commencing at 2300 on 22 July 2021 and 2300 on 25 July 2021.
A ban on attending for work on days an employee is rostered as "off/avail" commencing from 7.00am Wednesday 21 July 2021 and ending at 7.00am on Wednesday 11 August 2021.
A ban on attending for work on days an employee is rostered as "off/avail" commencing from 7.00am Wednesday 11 August 2021 and ending at 7.00am on Wednesday 25 August 2021.
A stoppage of work of 24 hours duration commencing at 0700 on Friday 10 September 2021.
A ban on the performance of work on the vessel Swan River Bridge commencing at 0001 on Saturday 18 September 2021 and ending at 2359 on Sunday 19 September 2021.
A ban on attending for work when called in after being placed on the standby list commencing at 0001 on Saturday 18 September 2021 and ending at 0700 on Monday 20 September 2021.
A ban on attending for work on days an employee is rostered as "off/avail" commencing from 7.00am Tuesday 31 August 2021 and ending at 7.00am on Tuesday 28 September 2021.
Two (2) consecutive stoppages of work of 24 hours duration commencing at 2300 on Friday 24 September 2021.
A ban on attending for work on days an employee is rostered as "off/avail" commencing from 7.00am Tuesday 28 September 2021 and ending at 7.00am on Tuesday 19 October 2021.
Patrick Terminals - Melbourne
A ban on the performance of overtime at East Swanson Dock (Melbourne) commencing at 12:01am Saturday 19 June 2021 until 12:01am Saturday 26 June 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions at East Swanson Dock (Melbourne) commencing at 12:01am Saturday 19 June 2021 until 12:01am Saturday 26 June 2021.
A stoppage of work of 1-hour duration at 0600, 0700, 1400, 1500, 2200 and 2300 on each day from Tuesday 29 June 2021 to Friday 2 July 2021 (inclusive of those days) - reducing shift duration by 2 hours on each shift.
Stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Wednesday 28 July 2021.
Stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Wednesday 28 July 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Monday 2 August 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Wednesday 4 August 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Monday 2 August 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Wednesday 4 August 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 0700 on Saturday 31 July 2021 until 0700 on Saturday 7 August 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 0700 on Saturday 31 July 2021 until 0700 on Saturday 7 August 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 Wednesday 15 September 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Wednesday 15 September 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Friday 17 September 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Friday 17 September 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 0700 on Tuesday 14 September 2021 until 0700 on Monday 20 September 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions 0700 on Tuesday 14 September 2021 until 0700 on Monday 20 September 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 Thursday 23 September 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Saturday 25 September 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Sunday 26 September 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Thursday 23 September 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Saturday 25 September 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Sunday 26 September 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 0700 on Thursday 23 September 2021 until 0700 on Thursday 30 September 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 0700 on Thursday 23 September 2021 until 0700 on Thursday 30 September 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Monday 4 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Monday 4 October 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 0700 on Monday 4 October 2021 until 0700 on Saturday 9 October 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 0700 on Monday 4 October 2021 until 0700 on Saturday 9 October 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" on Tuesday 5 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Wednesday 6 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Wednesday 6 October 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" on Thursday 7 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Friday 8 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Friday 8 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Monday 11 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Monday 11 October 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 0700 on Monday 11 October 2021 until 0700 on Saturday 16 October 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 0700 on Monday 11 October 2021 until 0700 on Saturday 16 October 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" on Tuesday 12 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Wednesday 13 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Wednesday 13 October 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" on Thursday 14 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Friday 15 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Friday 15 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Monday 18 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Monday 18 October 2021.
A ban on the working of overtime from 0700 on Monday 18 October 2021 until 0700 on Saturday 23 October 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 0700 on Monday 18 October 2021 until 0700 on Saturday 23 October 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" on Tuesday 19 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Wednesday 20 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Wednesday 20 October 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" on Thursday 21 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Friday 22 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Friday 22 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Monday 25 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Monday 25 October 2021.
A ban on the working of shift extensions from 0700 on Monday 25 October 2021 until 0700 on Saturday 30 October 2021
A ban on the working of overtime from 0700 on Monday 25 October 2021 until 0700 on Saturday 30 October 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" on Tuesday 26 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Wednesday 27 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Wednesday 27 October 2021.
A ban on attending for work when an employee is rostered as "off/avail" on Thursday 28 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Friday 29 October 2021.
A stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Friday 29 October 2021.
Love agricultural news? Sign up for The Land's free daily newsletter
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
