MUA Withdraws All Industrial Action at DPW
DP World and the Maritime Union of Australia have finally reached an in-principle agreement at the
Fair Work Commission, bringing months of protected industrial action to an end.
The agreement was announced today, Friday (2 February) at the conclusion of three days of facilitated negotiations before the FWC. It is still subject to endorsement by MUA members employed by DP World, but the union has confirmed DP World wharfies are returning to work with “the same enthusiasm, hard work and commitment that they have brought to their jobs over many years”.
The MUA began industrial action at DP World’s Australian terminals in October 2023 after negotiations for a new enterprise bargaining agreement collapsed. The union said the new agreement is for a four-year term and delivers fair pay, safety and fatigue management measures, and provides job security and a fair work-life balance for Australian wharfies.
It replaces an earlier agreement that expired in September 2023. DP World said the development came as “a relief to the logistics and shipping sectors”, promising stability and improved operations.
“This agreement is a testament to our commitment to our workforce and to providing uninterrupted services to our customers,” DP World Oceania executive vice president Nicolaj Noes said.
“We are now focused on moving forward, restoring the supply chain operations, and working collaboratively with our employees to rebuild confidence among our customers and make a positive impact on the national economy.”
It is still unclear how long it will take the backlog to clear out of the DP World terminals, however late last year DP World had commented that it would take at least 3 months once the Industrial Action ceased to return to normal operating capacity. It is hoped that the reduction of vessel dwell times off Australia will help to alleviate freight rate pressures that many importers and exporters are facing.
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