Australia’s leading container terminals face Protected Industrial Action

Patrick Terminals, one of Australia’s leading container terminal operators is facing Protected Industrial Actions (PIA’s) imposed by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA).  This week they announced that in order to support workers through the Covid-19 situation, new action will be taken against Patricks Melbourne.

Patrick Terminals handle around three million TEU’s per annum and include Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle.  The PIA’s are impacting the availability of labor.  Here are the latest restrictions:

• Stoppage of work of 24 hours duration commencing at 0700 on 23 July 2021.
• Stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Monday 26 July 2021.
• Stoppage of work of 8 hours duration commencing at 1100 on Wednesday 28 July 2021.
• Stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Monday 26 July 2021.
• Stoppage of work of 4 hours duration commencing at 0300 on Wednesday 28 July 2021.
• A ban on the working of overtime from 0700 on Saturday 24 July 2021 until 0700 on Saturday 31 July 2021.
• A ban on the working of shift extensions from 0700 on Saturday 24 July 2021 until 0700 on Saturday 31 July 2021.

These are expected to add further disruption and delays to vessels through Melbourne and create a knock-on effect with other ports.

Adding to this, here’s a view of the current berthing delays in the Patricks network:

• Sydney - Average delays of 6-7 days
• Fremantle - Potential average delays of up to 2 days.
• Brisbane - Potential average delays of 1-2 days.
• Melbourne - Potential average delays of 2-3 days currently & expected to worsen next week, given the above actions.

Our team in Australia are working hard to manage shipments during this extremely volatile time, and we will continue to closely monitor developments. To move stock urgently to market, we are advising customers to use our airfreight services.