CONTINUATION OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION AT QUBE PORTS (DARWIN / MELBOURNE) - Update 9

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) have received further notification from Qube Ports today (7 January 2025) of further Protected Industrial Action.

Darwin

In summary the restrictions are as follows commencing 0001 Friday 10 January, for 7 days.
  1. An 8-hour stoppage from when the vessel ties up at the berth.
  2. Will only work 8-hour shifts.
  3. Will only commence work at 0700, 1500 and 2300.
  4. There will be no shift extensions.
  5. A ban on performance of shift pre-starts.
  6. Once the start time is ordered they will not accept any variation to that start time.
  7. Will not accept any call ins outside of allocated shifts.
  8. 1-hour stoppage each day at 0600.
For vessels affected under these bans in Darwin, local management will be in touch separately to discuss.

Melbourne

In summary the restrictions are as follows commencing 0001 Friday 10 January for 21 days.
  1. An 8-hour stoppage from when the vessel ties up at the berth.
  2. Will only work 8-hour shifts.
  3. Will only commence work at 0700, 1500 and 2300.
  4. There will be no shift extensions.
  5. Will not work during meal breaks or other breaks.
  6. Once the start time is ordered they will not accept any variation to that start time.
  7. Will not accept any call ins outside of allocated shifts.
  8. Will only drive up to 15km/h on the wharf for PCC/RoRo ops.
  9. Will not accept any upgrades to Grade 7 (Supervisor).
  10. 24-hour stoppage commencing 0700 Monday 13 January. (New)
  11. 24-hour stoppage commencing 0700 Tuesday 14 January. (New)
  12. 24-hour stoppage commencing 0700 Wednesday 15 January. (New)
  13. 24-hour stoppage commencing 0700 Thursday 16 January. (New)
  14. 24-hour stoppage commencing 0700 Friday 17 January. (New)
  15. 24-hour stoppage commencing 0700 Saturday 18 January. (New)
  16. 24-hour stoppage commencing 0700 Sunday 19 January. (New)
  17. 24-hour stoppage commencing 0700 Monday 20 January. (New)
  18. 24-hour stoppage commencing 0700 Tuesday 21 January. (New)
  19. 24-hour stoppage commencing 0700 Wednesday 22 January. (New)
  20. 24-hour stoppage commencing 0700 Thursday 23 January. (New)
  21. 24-hour stoppage commencing 0700 Friday 24 January. (New)
  22. 24-hour stoppage commencing 0700 Saturday 25 January. (New)
  23. 24-hour stoppage commencing 0700 Sunday 26 January. (New) Points 10-23 equal a total stoppage period commencing 0700 Monday 13 January to 0700 Monday 27 January 2025.
For vessels affected under these bans in Melbourne, local management will be in touch separately to discuss.

Where to from here?

Should the parties remain at an impasse and fail to reach an agreement through negotiations, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) allows for arbitration in cases of protracted disputes. However, an application for arbitration cannot be made until at least nine months after the nominal expiry date of the previous agreement.

As the previous Enterprise Agreement expired on 30 June 2024, the earliest opportunity to seek arbitration would be 31 March 2025. Given the current deadlock, it is possible that the dispute could extend well into the second quarter of 2025.

FTA / APSA urges all parties involved in the industrial dispute to work together on a resolution to minimise the impact on workers, freight and the nation. 

Updates will be posted at www.FTAlliance.com.au