Freo workers join Bulk Liquids Shipping Terminals stoppage

Late yesterday, the Bulk Liquids Alliance of the CFMEU,the Maritime Union of Australia and the United Workers Union announced workers in Bulk Liquids Shipping Terminals around Australia, including Fremantle were set to take coordinated strike action today, Friday. The other terminal locations are Brisbane, Geelong, Davenport and Adelaide.

Workers in Quantem Bulk Liquids, one of Australia’s biggest bulk fuel suppliers, will take the one-hour stoppage in an attempt to ‘bring up the pay of chronically underpaid workers in some terminals, and block management attempts at slashing wages by more than $25,000.00 a year in others’ according to the media release of the Alliance.

Bulk Liquids Alliance Organiser Shane Reside said “this dispute started in Geelong and has now spread to almost every major port in the country: the question for us is – how much action are we going to have to take to fight off these attacks?”

Mr Reside added: “We will not be bullied by this company into accepting them slashing workers pay by tens of thousands of dollars, and accepting the notion that workers will be forced to work alongside one another, doing the same work, and getting paid completely different wages.”

“If it’s a fight that they’re looking for, we’re ready”.

In a statement by Quantem ‘regarding Protected Industrial Action at North Fremantle’ just received by the Shipping News, Quantem says –

Quantem confirms that workers at some of its facilities, including its North Fremantle terminal, will undertake 1-hour work stoppages under protected industrial action.
Our ongoing focus remains on providing a safe operating environment at the sites and minimising any disruption to our customers.
Quantem is ensuring sufficient resources are at site so that normal operations are maintained during this period. We do not expect disruption to customers from this action.
This protected industrial action is related to negotiations regarding a new Enterprise Agreement.
Quantem remains open to negotiating in good faith with its employees and their union representatives at the site.

We await further developments.

By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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