Nothing casual about deepening dock fight

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Nothing casual about deepening dock fight

By Anna Patty

A deepening stoush at a NSW port is becoming a focal point for a wider industrial battle between the mining industry and unions over the use of casuals.

The dispute at the Port Kembla Coal Terminal (PKCT) has seen workers launch a picket-line protest this week in response to a lockout.

PKCT workers and their supporters outside Port Kembla Coal Terminal on Monday after being locked out by the company.

PKCT workers and their supporters outside Port Kembla Coal Terminal on Monday after being locked out by the company. Credit: Adam McLean

PKCT has offered workers, who are paid as much as $130,000 plus superannuation, a 2 per cent pay rise.

Both sides to the dispute say the biggest issue is a clause in the proposed workplace agreement around job security and the use of casual workers.

The union fears removal of the job security clause will lead to contractors and casual staff replacing permanent employees.

But a spokeswoman for PKCT said it was a small regional business with less than 70 employees and revenue of less than $50 million.

We can’t offer job security if our business is not viable.

PKCT spokeswoman

"We can’t offer job security if our business is not viable," she said.

The coal loading facility wants more flexibility to meet changes in its business, including automation.

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The coal loading facility also wants to stop staff representatives having direct control over management and staff rosters. The union says it has agreed to give up that control.

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The coal facility, formerly owned by the NSW government, is run by a consortium of companies including Wollongong Coal, South 32, Peabody Energy and Glencore and is used to load outbound ships.

A source at Peabody Energy said job security clause the union had sought at PKCT was "not common" in its workplace agreements.

Stephen Smith from the Australian Industry Group said job security clauses were often sought by unions, but some had restricted employers from responding to market changes and competition.

CFMEU mining and energy south western district vice president Bob Timbs said there was nothing to stop PKCT replacing permanent staff with labour hire or casual workers if the job security clause was removed.

"They want to strip the job security clause out of the enterprise agreement and we've got nothing left, but to take industrial action," he said.

ACTU secretary Sally McManus.

ACTU secretary Sally McManus.Credit: Julian Smith

ACTU secretary Sally McManus said: “from coal mines and ports to research institutes and government offices, employers are trying to replace once-permanent jobs with insecure jobs".

Labor has committed to introducing a new legal definition of a casual worker if it wins government.

The Coalition government believes casual work is legitimate and has also announced it would introduce legislation to extend the ability of casuals to convert to part-time or full-time work.

Meanwhile the national maritime union will also meet with Hutchison Ports on Wednesday and Thursday when industrial action is expected to escalate if no progress is made in negotiations over a new wage agreement.

Employees of the stevedoring giant will keep earning an average of $150,000 in Sydney and $130,000 in Brisbane, but their superannuation payments would be cut from 12 per cent to 9.5 per cent. Hutchison is also asking for a fixed-term wage freeze after losing an estimated $40 million last year.

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