Patrick Terminal Workers to Strike Over New Wage Deal

Port of Botany Dockworkers at port of Botanys Patrick container terminal are expected to halt all operations at the site as they announced a 48-hour strike, Maritime Union of Australias (MUA) Sydney Branch Secretary Paul McAleer said. Scheduled to start at 6 am on Wednesday, the walkout at the container terminal, where some 260 people work, was announced after more than a year of negotiations on a new wage agreement with Australian freight logistics company Asciano. Namely, the company and the union tried to agree on extended working hours, as the company requested the dockworkers provide more labor on midnights and weekends, McAleer said. In turn, the dockworkers wanted the company to provide more job security, as almost 200 people lost their jobs as a direct result of automation and the companys cutting way too deeply, the branch secretary said, adding that the latest round of talks failed despite being very close to reaching an agreement. McAleer further added that the union was willing to sign an agreement on working midnight and weekend shifts, however, their propasal included decreased working hours, from 35 to 32 hours per week. World Maritime News is pending a reply from Asciano on the announced walkout. World Maritime News Staff