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In its quest for worker pay increases, Maritime Union of Australia ( MUA) persists with a series of work bans on Stevedore terminal sites which is hindering the efficiencies required to support Australian importers supply chains. While the bans have been implemented at all Australian ports, Sydney Port Botany is leading the ports in negative impacts.

 

The bans to date include:

 

  • A ban on the performance of overtime
  • A ban on the performance of shift extensions
  • A ban on attending work on days an employee is rostered as “off/avail”
  • Work stoppages of 1-hour duration
  • A ban on the performance of upgrades and/or work in higher levels
  • A ban on the performance of work on vessels that have been subcontracted to or outsourced by another stevedoring company.

 

As a direct result, Sydney terminal delays are now standing at approximately 7 days. Shipping lines have begun publishing Sydney port omissions and port rotations in a bid to minimise the inevitable delays to their schedules.  This will see containers discharged at alternate Australian ports and transhipped via other vessels back to Sydney port. As was the case with negative outcomes incurred from their 2020 bans, it is inevitable that this is going to result in port congestion, delays to importers and subsequent increased costs to importers .

 

Our team is already working case by case in determining best solutions possible to minimise both delays and costs for our clients.

 

Should you require assistance for a particular shipment please call our team directly for support.

 

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