The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has reached a workplace agreement with the world’s largest stevedoring company, Hutchison Ports, after three years of negotiations.
The new agreement is setting a new industry standard at container terminals in Sydney and Brisbane, according to the MUA announcement, and MUA Deputy National Secretary, Warren Smith believes that “This agreement not only brings to an end three years of hard-fought negotiations, it sets new industry standards, not only for Australia, but around the world.”
MUA said that according to the new agreement, workers will receive five 2.5% wage increases over the four-year deal once certified by the Fair Work Commission.
The agreement between MUA and the port operator, Hutchison Ports Australia, will see the introduction of 20 days paid domestic violence leave, the creation of permanent rosters, and the addition of a clause that gives the workforce the ability to find alternatives to redundancies in the event of an economic downturn, said the MUA announcement.
“The introduction of 20 days paid domestic violence leave is a significant victory that will reduce the financial hardship suffered by people dealing with the challenges of violence in the home,” commented Warren Smith.
“This agreement will see job security strengthened at the terminals, with protection against job losses due to the implementation of automation, technology and contractors, along with a move to address insecure work with a cap on casual employees and an emphasis on rostered permanents and guarantee workers,” pointed out Warren Smith.
He went on to add, “We could not have achieved this outcome without the sacrifices of MUA members who were united in exercising their lawful right to undertake industrial action in defence of a fair agreement.
“Nothing was given to us for free, and while negotiators spent countless hours working towards this outcome it was made possible by the efforts of every rank and file member at Hutchison.”
