THE Maritime Union issued a statement outlining concerns of workers at Hutchison terminals in Sydney and Brisbane who walked off the job on Friday.
The stop-work was in protest to what the union says is “Hutchison Ports’ ongoing refusal to move away from outsourcing of jobs and overseas remote controlling of already semi-automated equipment”.
A Hutchison Ports spokesperson told DCN, “There is no plan for any outsourcing of jobs overseas, which the union has been repeatedly informed.
“Today’s stoppage is protected action and part of the normal course of EBA negotiations, which are ongoing,” the spokesperson said.
“The union knowingly distributing incorrect information to media may be a tactic, but it is factually wrong and mischievous.”
However, the Maritime Union says it will continue to fight against “outsourcing our jobs for greater profit and remote controlling to workers that may be paid $2 per hour”.
“This is not a fight about wages, this is a fight for basic conditions, job security and not having our jobs outsourced overseas. It’s about automation and not being replaced by a robot and most importantly it’s about being able to work in a safe environment free from harassment, ” MUA QLD assistant branch secretary Paul Petersen said.
