Wharfies go on strike in Dampier
The Maritime Union of Australia has come good on its threat of strike action, this morning throwing a key oil and gas supply base at Dampier to a virtual standstill with a five-day strike.
In what industry groups described as "disappointing and irresponsible", 65 stevedores at the Mermaid Marine Australia facility in Dampier started their strike action this morning following threats in August and September.
The strike action stems from the MUA accusing Mermaid of wanting to cut workers' pay by 8 per cent in real terms by refusing to pay a performance and retention allowance that was part of the previous agreement.
In response, Mermaid has previously said the bonus - paid over a two-year period - had concluded in July last year by mutual agreement. The EBA expired last July.
The union also opposes Mermaid's attempt to cut shift times from 10 hours to 8½ hours, saying workers would have to work an extra day to achieve the same pay.
Mermaid said business at the supply base had declined as construction at Chevron's Gorgon project winding down, requiring more flexibility to align with client demand.
Commenting on the strike action, Australian Mines and Metals Association chief executive Steve Knott said the MUA was holding critical parts of the Australian economy to ransom.
"In virtually every enterprise negotiation it is involved in across the resource sector the MUA has belligerently pursued unrealistic industrial claims well above those in other industries," Mr Knott said.
"(It has) zero regard for the broader impacts of their actions and their impacts on working people.
"Our message to the MUA is drop the strike threats, drop the misguided campaigns against nationally important hydrocarbons projects and get serious about working with resource employers towards sustainable and fair outcomes for the industry and all who work within it."
