by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor
Update: 07.11.2024
Further industrial action has been announced at Qube Ports in Darwin, Brisbane, Port Kembla, and Adelaide for seven days starting from 00:01 local time on 8 November.
At Darwin Port, workers will observe an 8-hour stoppage from the time a vessel ties up at the berth and will only work 8-hour shifts starting at 07:00, 15:00, and 23:00. There will be no shift extensions and a ban on shift pre-starts is in place. Additionally, there will be a 1-hour stoppage each day at 06:00 from 8 November.
In Brisbane, similar measures are in place, including an 8-hour stoppage from when a vessel ties up and 8-hour shifts starting at 07:00, 15:00, and 23:00. New bans include a stoppage of work from 23:00 to 07:00 each night from 8 November to 10 November, and a 1-hour stoppage at 05:30, 13:30, and 21:30 daily starting from 8 November.
Port Kembla will also see an 8-hour stoppage from when a vessel ties up and 8-hour shifts starting at 07:00, 15:00, and 23:00. New actions include a stoppage of work from 23:00 to 07:00 each night from 8 November and a 1-hour stoppage at 12:00 and 20:00 daily starting from 8 November.
In Adelaide, the measures mirror those in other ports, with an 8-hour stoppage from when a vessel ties up and 8-hour shifts starting at 07:00, 15:00, and 23:00. New bans include a stoppage of work from 23:00 to 07:00 each night from 8 November, and a 1-hour stoppage at 12:00 and 20:00 daily starting from 8 November.
Original article: 25.10.2024
A seven-day strike began at 00:01 local time on 25 October in the ports of Brisbane and Darwin as part of the Qube and Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) bargaining process.
The industrial action includes several measures aimed at disrupting normal operations, including an eight-hour stoppage when vessels berth. Work will only occur in eight-hour shifts starting at 07:00, 15:00, or 23:00.
Local sources reveal that additional restrictions include bans on performing Grade 5, 6, or 7 work, limiting driving speeds to 15 km/h on the wharf for car carriers and ro-ro operations, and prohibiting transfers between berths and sites once work is allocated.
In addition to other measures related to shift extensions and work during breaks, there will be a one-hour work stoppage at 05:30, 13:30, and 21:30 daily.
Container handling operations performed by union members will be disrupted during the strike period.
Closures at Patrick Terminal in Brisbane have also been announced for yard infrastructure and system maintenance between 0700 and 2300 on Tuesday, 5 November, which marks Melbourne Cup Day.
Container delivery and pick-up schedules may be affected during these hours.
