Fremantle Ports remains hopeful of resolving an ongoing negotiation with vessel traffic service officers who have flagged their intent to strike for a second time this weekend.
Fremantle Ports remains hopeful of resolving an ongoing negotiation with vessel traffic service officers who have flagged their intent to strike for a second time this weekend.
The government-owned port has been in negotiations with the Australian Maritime Officers Union on a new enterprise agreement for months, culminating in a 48-hour strike across Sunday and Monday over this week.
The pair remain in negotiations, but the union today flagged a second strike from Sunday morning – confirmed to Business News by the port late on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for Fremantle Ports said the notice was for strike action beginning at 5.30am on Sunday and running for 48 hours.
The port is hopeful of a resolution before that time and said it would seek to mitigate any further impact of strike action.
“A meeting with the marine services bargaining group has been arranged and we’re hopeful of reaching an agreement and avoiding further disruption, through good faith bargaining and respectful, collaborative discussion,” the spokesperson said.
“We will continue working with our customers and port partners regarding measures to minimise the impact upon trade through the port.”
The news comes hours after Ports Minister David Michael told media the port had been minimally impacted the first strike over the weekend just gone.
“I’m told that the impact of the strike was negligible, in terms of all those land side operations continuing, so ships were offloaded as normal,” he said.
“There were some interruptions, I understand, because of the weather impacts over the last couple of days, or especially earlier.
“At least on this occasion the port managed extremely well and made sure ships were in, so they were able to be offloaded – which sometimes does take more than a couple of days.”
Mr Michael said he remained hopeful of a resolution between the port and the workers, but that the government didn’t want to see industrial action on the waterfront.
“I will say that these employees are critical employees, very hard working, obviously,” he said.
“I still remain hopeful that the Port Authority and the union can work together to get an outcome.”
Last week, EES Shipping managing director Brian Hack told Business News that strike action could have flow on effects for the state’s supply chains – warning projects like the Murdoch Medihotel would be unable to access materials on time.
