While we had hoped that industrial relations matters may have been resolved last year, we are unfortunately witnessing escalation of Protected Industrial Action at Patrick Stevedoring and Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) with Enterprise Agreements also yet to be finalised at Svitzer and Hutchison.
The economic impacts and reputational damage of sustained industrial action could again be significant at a time when global shipping is in a highly vulnerable state.
FTA / APSA SUBMISSIONS
As outlined in the Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) submission (pages 16/17) to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Vulnerable Supply Chains, APSA made an application to the Australian International Trade & Transport Industry Development Fund Ltd (AITTIDF) to support an economic assessment of the impact of 'disruptive events'.
As well as supporting advocacy for business continuity, the consultation, research and paper had an aim to be a vital resource should industry representatives be called as an expert witness to quantify economic impacts of waterfront industrial action before the Fair Work Commission (FWC). |