Freo port workers call for ‘work-life balance’ but Qube says they are ‘well compensated’ for flexibility

WA grain growers are caught in the crossfire of a heated contractual battle between fed up port workers and one of the country's biggest logistics companies, causing “chaos” and costing the State’s agricultural industry “tens of millions”. The domino effect of the debacle pealed into the grainbelt last week, when $50 million of farm machinery was diverted to ports over east after the ships carrying it were unable to unload. Disgruntled workers at Fremantle Port claim Qube has been “unwilling” to negotiate their request for two more hours notice for their shifts, but the logistics giant says it is “not possible” and employees are “well compensated” for their flexibility. Usually notified of each shift at 4pm the day prior — as per their agreement since 1999 — Maritime Union of Australia members have been calling for it to be changed to 2pm instead to be able to have “work-life balance”. Unable to come to an agreement, the port has been the grounds for industrial action for the past 10 weeks. The impact of the stalemate reared its ugly head last week, when three cargo ships carrying 42 combine harvesters and crucial farm machinery and parts were unable to unload and diverted to Melbourne and Adelaide. Shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen — which generally runs 6-8 vessels into the port a month — also announced in late September it had pulled out of calling at Fremantle until it was resolved. The tussle is anticipated to cost growers — who are staring down a bumper season — and dealerships “tens of millions”, with WA truckies looking at 200 trips to bring machinery back across the country. For some, it could be too late, with growers in the Geraldton Port Zone already harvesting their crops. It has sparked a blame game as to why the vessels were unable to be unloaded and appeals for vessels carrying crucial machinery to “be an exception”. MUA WA branch secretary and national president Will Tracey said “at no stage” had the union prevented vessels discharging cargo and the onus was on Qube. “In week one of the dispute, Qube could have discharged vessels in Fremantle by allocating stevedores by 2pm on the day prior to the scheduled work,” he said. “Instead, they diverted ships to Melbourne. This was Qube’s decision and was not because the MUA were unwilling or unable to work these vessels.” “The MUA does not get involved in contractual negotiations between vessel operators and stevedoring companies and we repeat that we have not blocked a single worker from attending site. “We do not stand on the road — trucks and workers continue to access site every day of the week while we protest. We do not and have not blocked anyone from accessing the port.” However, Qube Ports director Michael Sousa said union members “refused” to work if they were not notified by 2pm instead of 4pm and they have had to draw on other employees to service vessels. “Members of the MUA have refused to attend work and refused to honour their current agreement with our company,” he said. In August last year, Qube and the MUA reached a national agreement to roll over their existing enterprise agreement, which would provide Qube employees with a 2.5 per cent year-on-year increase for four years. It has been implemented at 25 of the 26 ports nationwide, with Fremantle the exception. Mr Sousa said Qube — which has 134 full time employees at the Fremantle terminal — would “continue to meet with the MUA WA Branch in an attempt to resolve their issues” with it. However, he said it was “not possible” to offer the extra two hours notice and workers were paid well to compensate their flexibility. “The key issue remains that the MUA want a change made to their arrangement that goes against our customer contracts and is not possible,” Mr Sousa said. “The bulk stevedoring industry relies on the ability to allocate labour at 4pm each day due to fluctuations in shipping arrivals, weather conditions and port congestion. “Our workers are well compensated for the flexibility that is required in our business to be able to service customers and this is just the nature of the industry in which we operate. “A Qube port worker in Fremantle today is one of the highest paid general stevedores in Australia. Full time employees working for Qube in Fremantle earn on average $139,500 per annum for 169 days of work.” Mr Tracey said it was “not about money” but ensuring a safe place of work and work-life balance for workers. “Qube have let down all Fremantle Port stakeholders, including WA farmers,” he said. “ If Qube had agreed to allocate MUA labour by 2pm on the day prior to the work being required to be performed, there would have been no stoppages of work and no disruption to the discharge of agricultural machinery in Fremantle.”