International shippers transporting bulk liquids to the Port of Melbourne have been warned not to undertake any actions that undermine the resolution of the current industrial dispute between bulk liquid storage terminals operator Quantem and workers at Quantem’s Coode Island site.
ITF Dockers' Section Coordinator Enrico Tortolano today said he had written to several shipping operators that are understood to own vessels expected to be arriving at the Coode Island terminal in the next two weeks. Those companies included the owners or operators of Stolt Bassuto (9351543), Chem Star 1 (9731371), Golden Creation (9738662), Golden Mind (9881067) and Golden Wave (98119911)
“The ITF advised those operators that ITF-affiliate union the Maritime Union of Australia was currently in dispute with Quantem and had commenced protected industrial action under Australian law,” said Tortolano.
“We also advised the operators that Quantem had stood down the entire workforce at Coode Island in response to the protected industrial action, and was planning to fly in scab labour to undermine the industrial action.
“The operators we wrote to all have ITF-negotiated workplace agreements. Those agreements clearly state that when a vessel is in port where an official trade dispute involving an ITF-affiliated dock workers’ union is taking place, there shall not be any cargo operations undertaken which could affect the resolution of the dispute.
“The ITF therefore calls on vessel owners, operators and decision-makers to respect the lawfully protected industrial action engaged in by the MUA, and to respect the clauses of the Agreements signed by those operators.”
ITF Asia Pacific Regional Secretary Scott McDine said the dock workers at Quantem were determined to secure an agreement for fair pay and conditions.
“Transport workers across the Asia Pacific region are appalled by the actions of Quantem management.
“An attack on one transport worker is an attack on all.
“Qauntem management needs to go back to the negotiating table and resume bargaining in a mature, responsible and meaningful way.”
ENDS
Media Contact: Stewart Prins | Prins_Stewart@itf.org.uk
About the ITF: The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is a democratic, affiliate-led federation recognised as the world’s leading transport authority. We fight passionately to improve workers’ lives, connecting more than 760 affiliated trade unions from over 150 countries to secure rights, equality and justice for workers’ globally. We are the voice for more than 16.6 million transport workers across the world.
Photo credit: Josh Stanyer / SOPA Images via Reuters Connect
