Asciano says a long-running dispute across its Patrick stevedoring operations has so far cost it $15 million.
The dispute is set to continue although the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has rejected Asciano’s statement that the union had not negotiated in good faith.
Asciano claims the union has refused Fair Work Australia (FWA) to broker negotiations for a new enterprise agreement.
However, the MUA says a new agreement would have already been signed if Asciano had simply agreed to the union’s demand for FWA to adjudicate disputes between its members and the port operator.
“The reason the talks are breaking down is because Patrick refuse to acknowledge the right for the industrial umpire to resolve disputes,” MUA assistant branch secretary Will Tracey told AAP.
“Even the model clause inside the Fair Work Act … has arbitration in the dispute resolution procedure.”
Asciano applied to the FWA for conciliation last week following an 18 month dispute between the union and its ports business Patrick.
The union had walked away from the talks on Thursday, Asciano said.
“We are bitterly disappointed that the MUA was not prepared to even clarify its position regarding the few outstanding items,” Patrick director Alistair Field said in a statement on Friday.
“This is an open rejection of good faith bargaining that flies in the face of the Fair Work Act.”
The company said the dispute had resulted in more than 60 stoppages across the Patrick business and cost the company more than $15 million.
The union is currently engaged in a series of strikes at Patrick’s Fremantle container terminal, which Asciano said would stop the movement of about 65 per cent of the containers at the port.
It is also involved in a “go slow” at Patrick’s Port Botany operations in Sydney.
A Fremantle Ports spokeswoman said the other container terminal operator at Fremantle, DP World, was operating as normal.
Fremantle Ports chief executive Chris Leatt-Hayter said the industrial action was having a significant impact on container shipping operations, causing one container ship to bypass the port and head straight on to the eastern states.
“The industrial action will cause significant delays to importers in getting their goods delivered to customers,” Mr Leatt-Hayter said.
“There will also be an impact on exporters who won’t be able to get their goods to international markets.
“The current delays being experienced have potential flow on effects, also, in terms of delays for other vessels scheduled to call at Fremantle to load and unload cargo.”
Separately, the union is also embroiled in an 18-month dispute with Patrick’s maintenance contractor ATIVO.
Mr Tracey said the current strike action would end early on Monday, when the union would reassess its position.
