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“The disagreements between the two parties are easily resolved and have been achieved within the industry with other stevedoring companies without them resorting to this type of character assassination.”
Among the enterprise agreement provisions Patrick says will be removed are rules that require it to effectively get the union’s approval for new hires, rather than hiring on merit alone.
“We have presented the MUA with an attractive national offer on top of their already very generous agreement including a 10 per cent pay increase across four years, coupled with protections addressing concerns over the use of casuals and job security,” Mr Jovicic said.
The other major port operators, DP World and Hutchison Ports reached deals earlier this year with the maritime union, which is a part of the much larger Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union.
University of Sydney labour law Professor Shae McCrystal said the Fair Work Commission can terminate agreements where they are past their nominal expiry date, and termination is in the “public interest”.
Professor McCrystal said termination was “quite a significant threat” because even the spectre of it put employers in a more powerful bargaining position.
Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus accused Patrick of using loopholes in an attempt to cut wages and rights.
“MUA members are no strangers to this type of behaviour from Patrick, who should return to the bargaining table and respect their workers,” Ms McManus said.
Attorney-General Michaelia Cash said the government was concerned about the damage industrial action could do to the economy but made clear the matter was ultimately for the independent Fair Work Commission and the parties.
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“Just when communities are coming out of lockdowns and businesses are reopening their doors, this industrial action could not come at a worse time,” said Senator Cash, who is also industrial relations minister. “This action will be felt in Australia’s two most populous cities as they emerge from prolonged lockdowns, only to be hit by more disruption and economic harm.”
Former prime minister John Howard described the 1998 Waterfront Dispute as “the most bitterly fought domestic issue of my whole time as prime minister”. That year Patrick sacked its 1400 unionised workers and replaced them with contracted workers.
The Howard government backed the move, which the company said was essential to increase productivity and stop the union controlling the wharves.
After a bitter campaign of sometimes aggressive pickets and legal action, the company ultimately kept many of its workers on and the union agreed to efficiency improvements.
Patrick stevedores applies to tear up pay deal for more than 1000 wharfies
Source: Philippines Alive
