CONTINUATION OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION AT QUBE PORTS - UPDATE 5

Friday, December 27, 2024

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) have received notification from Qube Ports this morning (27 December 2024) of further Protected Industrial Action for the Port of Brisbane.

In summary the restrictions are as follows and are in addition to notice EA15:
  1. No work between 2300 and 0700 commencing 2300 Friday 3 January, ending 0700 Friday 10 January.
  2. One-hour stoppages of work each day at 1330 and 2130 commencing 1330 Friday 3 January 2025, ending 0700 Friday 10 January 2025.
  3. One-hour stoppages of work at 0730 and 1530 on Saturday 4 January and Sunday 5 January 2025.
  4. 24-hour stoppage commencing 2300 Wednesday 1 January 2025 For vessels affected under these bans in Brisbane, local management will be in touch separately to discuss.
Where to from here?

Should the parties remain at an impasse and fail to reach an agreement through negotiations, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) allows for arbitration in cases of protracted disputes. However, an application for arbitration cannot be made until at least nine months after the nominal expiry date of the previous agreement.

As the previous Enterprise Agreement expired on 30 June 2024, the earliest opportunity to seek arbitration would be 31 March 2025. Given the current deadlock, it is possible that the dispute could extend well into the second quarter of 2025.

FTA / APSA urges all parties involved in the industrial dispute to work together on a resolution to minimise the impact on workers, freight and the nation. 

Updates will be posted at www.FTAlliance.com.au 
Paul Zalai - Director FTA / Secretariat APSA