HONG KONG's Hutchison Ports Australia (HPA) dockers defied a back to work order from the Fair Work Australia (FWC) in protest of the sacking of 97 of its 222 workers at Sydney and Brisbane.
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has decided to remain on strike in defiance of an FWC order while HPA claimed the strike was "illegal".
HPA also denied claims it was slashing the workforce to bring in more automation, saying the cutbacks were due to financial losses.
HPA chief financial officer Chee Keong Chan said the decision was a difficult one, but followed the company announcement it was downsizing its service offering to the market.
"HPA is currently incurring substantial financial losses," Mr Chan said. "It has been unable to secure a market share with leading shipping lines. It has no capital expenditure plans for new automation at the Sydney or Brisbane terminals."
HPA has been struggling after failing to lock in a third terminal in Melbourne and problems with height restrictions under the third runway in Sydney.
But Brisbane's MUA secretary Bob Carnegie told IHS Maritime the union had inside information that HPA was planning a joint endeavour with Manila port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) to cover all three ports with a non-union agreement, to undercut rivals DP World and Patrick.
One highly placed industry source confirmed to IHS Maritime that discussions on a partnership between HPA and ICTSI had taken place.
"A partnership would be the logical thing to do," he said. "It would have good prospects for a national approach to contracts on the east coast. I have heard there was something going in terms of a commercial relationship. But I've heard nothing about a non union operation."
Mr Carnegie said the union would not be budged from the protest until Hutchison Ports Australia came to the table for "meaningful talks" with the workers' elected representatives, reported the Brisbane Times.
"Until then, we will keep protesting, and keep protesting and keep protesting. We have no compunction about taking this argument up ?we are fighting for fairness and justice. They have the money, but we have the labour power," he said.
WORLD SHIPPING
11 August 2015 - 22:38
Hutchison's Sydney and Brisbane terminals strike-bound over mass sackings
HONG KONG's Hutchison Ports Australia (HPA) dockers defied a back to work order from the Fair Work Australia (FWC) in protest of the sacking of 97 of its 222 workers at Sydney and Brisbane.
WORLD SHIPPING
11 August 2015 - 22:38
Hutchison's Sydney and Brisbane terminals strike-bound over mass sackings
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