Canberra urged to move on dock dispute

Australia's docks face another day of disruption and industrial upheaval, as farming and shipping groups called on the federal government to intervene in the dispute due to the harm it was causing to the economy.


The pressure comes as Patrick's container ports in Sydney and Brisbane were shut yesterday after the company said it would not pay workers who engaged in any work bans. Those bans are to spread to Fremantle today, while its other terminal in Melbourne is unaffected.


Last night, Workplace Relations Minister Chris Evans called on the parties to resume talks, reported The Age.


"Both parties are reported as claiming they are keen to resolve the dispute. Therefore I would expect them to return to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith," Evan said.


The lawful work bans are scheduled to last for up to another six days. The Maritime Union of Australia has rejected a company offer for talks and possible arbitration in Fair Work Australia.


MUA deputy national secretary Mick Doleman accused Patrick of not bargaining in good faith and of preventing its members from working. "Patrick Stevedores needs to abandon its war on workers and behave in a constructive, co-operative fashion," he said.


Patrick director Paul Garaty said the rejection "demonstrates that the union are intent on carrying out their full seven days of industrial action in pursuit of their 20 per cent increase in the company's labour costs".


It is believed Patrick's next step, if the dispute continues, is likely to be an application to Fair Work Australia next week to seek to have the action stopped because it was causing significant economic harm.


Shipping Australia chief executive Llew Russell said the government would need to act in the coming days to help settle the dispute as it was having a "major impact on the economy". "If it continues we would seek intervention from the Minister for Workplace Relations."


National Farmers Federation president Jock Laurie warned of the effect of the dispute on the export of major agricultural commodities.


Under the Fair Work laws, the government has powers to force an end to industrial action if it is causing "significant economic harm", while Fair Work Australia also has a power to eventually arbitrate disputes.


University of Adelaide law professor Andrew Stewart said the minister had the power to end the dispute if he felt it was causing significant harm but that prospect was remote.
(Source:http://www.cargonewsasia.com)