Next month will mark 20 years since stevedoring business Patrick dismissed its workforce at the apex of what became one of the most significant, and contentious, industrial relations battles in a generation.
OPINION: In any normal case, efforts to economise and gain efficiencies to best represent your stakeholders would be applauded. So why is that not the case with the proposed merger of some of the nation's most influential unions?
ANALYSIS: The union movement hasn't wasted any time reminding Premier-elect Mark McGowan that it wants a share of the spoils, even before he has moved into his new West Perth office.
Newly appointed Labor candidate for Fremantle, Josh Wilson, says he sympathises with the man he has replaced in what he has described as extraordinary circumstances.
SPECIAL REPORT: In order to fully understand where political power lies in Western Australia, it's necessary to recognise the role of low-profile powerbrokers such as Carolyn Smith and Nick Goiran.
Two of Australia's most powerful, and militant, trade unions have flagged a potential merger to create an industrial monolith spanning construction, mining and the wharfside.
The Australian Mines and Metals Association is calling on the federal government to fix uncertainty in the offshore oil and gas sector after the Federal Court reversed an earlier decision to allow changes to foreign worker visas.
The Fair Work Commission last night issued an order to the Australian Institute of Marine & Power Engineers to end a planned strike by Teekay Shipping's engineers this morning in Port Hedland.
Tugboat operator Teekay Shipping and the world's fourth largest iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group have condemned the decision of 56 tugboat workers to bring Port Hedland to a halt for four hours next Wednesday .
Western Australia is feeling the effects of recent changes to workplace relations law, with 457 visa restrictions causing skills shortages in niche markets and a high level of industrial activity.
The Maritime Union of Australia has started its five-day strike at Mermaid Marine Australia's Dampier Supply Base today, a decision the Australian Mines and Metals Association has labelled “irresponsible and misguided”.
Mermaid Marine Australia employees at the Dampier Supply Base will stop work on Wednesday for five days, while negotiations continue around wages and job security.
Mermaid Marine Australia managing director Jeff Weber has defended the company's stance on negotiations with the Maritime Union of Australia, after employees at its Dampier Supply Base said on Friday they would strike for 10 days.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry is concerned the Maritime Union of Australia's planned strike action at Onslow will trigger a domino effect of disruptions at the state's ports, affecting crucial links in the resources supply chain.
BHP Billiton Iron Ore president Jimmy Wilson says the mining giant is likely to request government intervention to prevent a "devastating" proposed strike at Port Hedland which could cost miners up to $100 million a day.
International oil and gas giant Chevron has signed Chris Corrigan's Qube Logistics to beef up its port capacity to service the massive Gorgon project on Barrow Island.
