Fight with waterfront unions should be confined to Stateships

25/5/95Transport Minister Eric Charlton says the fight with the waterfront unions at Fremantle should be confined to Stateships rather than irresponsibly penalising other Western Australian businesses.

25/5/95

Transport Minister Eric Charlton says the fight with the waterfront unions at Fremantle should be confined to Stateships rather than irresponsibly penalising other Western Australian businesses.

Mr Charlton said the unions had embarked on an industrial campaign to bring the entire State to a standstill to maintain their monopoly over the stevedoring labour market at the Port of Fremantle.

"It is encouraging the Maritime Union decided to reintroduce the exemption on loading grain ships through Co-operative Bulk Handing terminals at Kwinana and the regional ports of Albany, Esperance and Geraldton," he said.

"Allowing grain railed from the country to be discharged at CBH facilities is a welcome show of good faith by the unions and demonstrates to our overseas customers that WA can be a reliable exporter.

"The waterfront unions engaged by Patrick Stevedoring and Conaust Limited at Fremantle have total control of all export/import tonnages through Fremantle and the Stateships' contract with BAAC presents no challenge to that arrangement.

"How can the maritime unions justify holding the State to ransom when their award working conditions are not under threat."

There are hundreds of examples of WA businesses being held to ransom by striking dockside workers. Many are stockpiling containers of goods and produce for export, while others are being denied urgent imported components for manufacturing.

The present state of shipping disruption throughout WA:

·      Fremantle - nine ships are tied up and unable to load/unload; another seven vessels are at anchor in Gage Roads.  Six of those are scheduled at Fremantle tomorrow to load and discharge alumina, silica, oil, containers.

Today the MUA allowed the stock carrier 'Marineos' with 32,000 sheep to sail. The situation had become desperate and a serious environmental problem was avoided when effluent from the vessel was prevented from being discharged into the harbour.

An estimated $1.5 million worth of containerised perishable goods including meat, fish, fruit and vegetables are lying idle at the port and at risk of spoiling.

BP Refinery at Kwinana is losing $50,000 a day and this will rise to $200,000 a day should the strike extend into next week.

The Fremantle Port Authority has waived all tonnage and ship-related charges on vessels denied the ability to conduct scheduled cargo activities during the present stoppage.

·       Albany - one ship at berth to load wheat, another grain vessel due this evening;

·       Bunbury - two vessels at anchor waiting to load alumina;

·       Geraldton - one ship in port to load mineral sands - two vessels due at the weekend;

·       Dampier - a drill ship prevented from sailing;

·       Esperance - Vessel discharging ammonium nitrate with two ships due within 24 hours to take on iron ore and nickel concentrate;

·       Port Hedland - one vessel lying off the port waiting to load felspar.

The Australian Industrial Relations Commission hearing the dispute between Stateships, The Maritime Union of Australia, The Australian Maritime Officers' Union and their WA branches and BAAC Pty Ltd will resume at 10.00 am tomorrow.

Mr Charlton said it was now timely for the unions to acknowledge the criticism of Australian industry of the declining efficiency on the waterfront compared with other trading partners.  In particular, the New Zealand model with its high productivity and reduced overheads had given exporters a leading edge around the world in competition with Australian trade.

Media contact:  Ian Hasleby 321 7333 or 222 9595


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