THE Maritime Union, part of the CFMMEU, is to end industrial action against DP World Australia at Port Botany it has been announced.
In a statement from DPWA, the company said the union had provided “written undertakings to the company confirming all industrial action will cease at DP World Sydney with immediate effect”.
Chief operating officer terminals Andrew Adam said this ensured their Sydney Terminal could resume normal services.
“We’re pleased the Union has confirmed in writing that no industrial action of any kind can be implemented at our Sydney Terminal prior to 1 November which allows the parties to finalise the outstanding Enterprise Agreement,” Mr Adam said.
“We anticipate that without the distraction of bans and limitations, a conclusion to the outstanding local matters for DP World Sydney is achievable,” he said.
“We appreciate the assistance of the Fair Work Commission for listing the matter quickly which facilitated this outcome for the NSW supply chain.”
The company had earlier sought lodged an application with the Fair Work Commission to end the dispute.
Earlier, the MUA said notified bans on working shipping lines at DP World Australia Port Botany terminal over the next two weeks have been withdrawn.
The work bans are the subject of an action at the Fair Work Commission in which Attorney-General Christian Porter pledged to intervene.
MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin said the bans were only ever going to apply for five minutes.
“The company was aware of this fact and chose to ignore it with their legal application,” Mr Crumlin said.
“The go-slow productivity bans were imposed for a period of five minutes [Friday] morning, between 6.30am and 6.35am.
“These actions were the basis of DPW’s claims of damage to the economy. It is very clear there will be next to no impact from these actions.”
Mr Crumlin said DPWA’s estimates of economic damage were based on false assumptions that they looked forward to dispelling in court.
“It seems DPWA have again dragged others into a dispute they could have resolved by simply meeting,” he said.
He said the union remained open to further talks. “It is a shame that the company has misled the federal government on the real impact of the industrial actions that they could easily remove through meeting and resolving an agreement,” he said.
DPWA chief operating officer – terminals, Andrew Adam, said while the MUA had withdrawn one of its notices of industrial action since the filing of DP World’s application, Mr Crumlin’s comments “do not accurately reflect the extent of industrial action currently in place at DP World Sydney”.
“Eleven notified bans remain in place which are causing significant damage to the economy, including directives to go-slow on key equipment, and overtime bans,” Mr Adam said.
“[On Friday] there is a four-hour stoppage that started from midday which is adding further delays for our customers.
“In addition, a new notice was served on Tuesday that bans the performance of work on our largest customer next week.
“The ‘go slow’ bans still in place are available to be utilised for an indefinite period. The use of the ban for a short period today displays that it can be turned on and off by the union at their sole discretion at any time and severely damage the economy.”
Mr Adam said that after 24 months of protracted negotiations it was “our experience that industrial action, whether it be bans or stoppages, will be implemented as notified in writing”.
“We cannot manage customer requirements based on verbal commitments which can be revoked at a moment’s notice,” he said.
