topic Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA in Community Spirit

THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

nero_bolt — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 04:52:44 GMT

Victoria in the short 2 weeks since the election has already become the STRIKE capital of Australia and UNION controlled

Next it will be a beer strike -- airline strike - public transport strike -- building CFMEU strike -- the list will go on -- History repeating itself !

Melbourne docks to shut down for 32 hours as union, DP World lock horns

A UNION war on Melbourne’s docks is threatening to delay deliveries in the lead up to Christmas.

The DP World controlled section of the docks will be shut down for 32 hours from today as an industrial relations battle heats up.

The Maritime Workers Union is taking legal industrial action with a rolling 24-hour strike from 6.30am.

DP World has hit back by locking out workers on Friday for eight hours in retaliation.

The dispute could lead to ugly tensions last seen in 1998 when Patricks tried to tackle the docks workers’ union.

DP World has sent a letter out to workers blaming the MUA for the delay in reaching a pay deal.

“Their expectations are completely outrageous and the union has lost touch with reality,” the note read.

They still have over 50 claims on the table and are demanding a pay increase of 4.5 per cent.”

DP World has offered the MUA an 11.2 per cent pay rise over four years.

But the union has demanded 18 per cent over the same period and better redundancy conditions amid fears the docks would be automated resulting in significant job losses.

The Melbourne strike coincides with industrial action in Sydney and Fremantle as the union ramps up pressure on DP World.

But Warren Smith, assistant secretary of the MUA, said workers were fighting for a fair deal.

“All we want to see is a fair selection process for who is made redundant. Ultimately we want voluntary redundancies,” he said.

DP World said it was working to limit disruption to shipment deliveries.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/melbourne-docks-to-shut-down-for-32-hours-as-union-dp-world-lock-horns/story-fni0fit3-1227151491124

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

mainecoon1 — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 05:39:02 GMT

The Sydney docs have also had industrial action and will be closed again on 15th, last time I looked it was a Libral government in NSW.

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

this-one-time-at-bandcamp — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 05:40:35 GMT

So, dock workers in NSW and WA are organizing activity in their ports, but Victoria is the bad guy? I don't think you know Shinola from that other stuff........

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

outdoorhunting1 — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 05:41:32 GMT

Not surprising

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

boris1gary — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 05:50:47 GMT

and now for the real story

The Australian: DP World ‘Wages War on Wharfies’ With **bleep**-for-Tat Lockout

Posted by Ashleigh Telford on December 11, 2014

THE Maritime Union of Australian has escalated strike action against DP World, as the union’s national secretary Paddy Crumlin accused the company of declaring war on its workforce.

In addition to strike action at company terminals in three states from today, the MUA said workers at the Port Botany terminal in Sydney would strike for 12 hours over next Monday and Tuesday.

DP World management responded by announcing the Sydney workers would be locked out for a further eight hours over that period, meaning they would not return to work until 6am on Tuesday.

“We have been very clear from the outset of our negotiations with the MUA and elected employee representatives that any protected action would be met with employer response action, and this is what we intend to do,’’ the company said.

“This action is occurring at a very busy time and will cause significant schedule disruption leading up to the Christmas period.’’
The company is expected today to apply to the Fair Work Commission to mediate the dispute.

Mr Crumlin blasted the company’s tactics, accusing management of seeking to impose on workers its plans for further automation at its ports, rather than through agreement.

He said the company was also trying to renege on longstanding agreed award conditions, including the payment of penalty rates and a 35-hour week, which was originally negotiated as compensation for the loss of thousands of jobs.

Mr Crumlin said “they have just gone out and declared war on their own workforce, in a massive action over the last four or five days of self-harm’’.

“This is what they are saying to their workforce, ‘Well, if you don’t like it, we don’t care. If you don’t like it, we’ll go down to the commission and force-feed it,’ ” he said.

“I tell you, wharfies are the wrong people to send that sort of message to.’’

He said the company was trying to “give you the offer you can’t refuse — who do they think they are? The Godfather?’’

He accused DP World of reacting to limited industrial action by responding with the “militant employer activity’’ of lockouts.

“What do they think it is? The Rumble in the Jungle? The Thriller in Manila? This is a civilised workforce with a longstanding credibility far beyond any of these managers,’’ he said.

He said the Australian waterfront was going through the “last great step of automation where large numbers of human beings were being replaced by machines’’.

“Anyone who understands the industry knows it’s easy to come down and punch us in the face,’’ he said.

“We have copped about three or four of them over the last five or six months and we have just about had a gutful.’’

The union was prepared to sit down with the company’s chief executive, Paul Scurrah, “but really this kind of behaviour isn’t acceptable in any country, much less a country with the long history that we’ve got.’’

- See more at: http://www.mua.org.au/the_australian_dp_world_wages_war_on_wharfies_with_tit_for_tat_lockout#sthash.K34FyvaL.dpuf

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

aps1080 — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 05:58:01 GMT

Yes, workers on $100,000 plus a year, whether there is work to do or they are sent home - and still paid - are hard to come by so it is no wonder they don't like automation.

A cushy job if you can get it.

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

nero_bolt — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 06:00:24 GMT

@boris1gary wrote:

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

nero_bolt — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 06:02:48 GMT

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

aps1080 — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 06:03:02 GMT

Before you lefties come on and rubbish me, i have two mates who are wharfies and both earn over $100'000 a year, both get brand new cars every 3rd year - and not just any new car, big limo types.

Yep, they are really short of a quid.

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

gleee58 — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 06:30:11 GMT

Seriously?

You expect people to believe you have friends, friends working on the water front who discuss their wages with you?

Yeah right.

Anyone want to buy a bridge?

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

myoclon1cjerk — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 06:38:33 GMT

Are those limos bigger than the ones the refugees and native Australians get.
$100,000!!? That's almost two thirds of what miners get.Perhaps if the government gave stevedoring companies billions in rebates,they could match the mining companies generosity.

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

aps1080 — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 06:46:24 GMT

Minings a different ball game. Stuck in the middle of nowhere, hot, dusty, **bleep** working conditions.

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

debra9275 — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 06:50:01 GMT

Have you ever seen the size of those huge cranes on the docks, we often go past them working when we're on the boat, they seem to work 24/7. I would want danger money if I had to work with those things. Fascinating to watch them though

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

aps1080 — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 06:54:26 GMT

Yes, Have been on the docks and on the water just opposite them in a boat, albeit a small boat !!!

They are huge.

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

debra9275 — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 07:00:51 GMT

Huge things aren't they. I love seeing them all lit up at night. They look huge to me and from a very big function boat . Imagine even climbing the ladder to the control booth? Scary stuff, it's a long way down from there

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

debra9275 — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 07:03:00 GMT

we often go past there on this boat or the one moored behind it.

Nero Victoria voted ... overwhelmingly Qld will be next with a similar result I expect

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

outdoorhunting1 — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 07:03:19 GMT

Not a fan of heights !!!

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

debra9275 — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 07:04:34 GMT

me either, climbing onto the boats is high enough for me lol

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myoclon1cjerk — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 07:04:40 GMT

And then it's our turn in 2016 when Julie calls a federal election. 🙂

Re: THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF VICTORIA

village_person — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 07:11:15 GMT

From the ALP manifesto under JOBS AND GROWTH

A Labor Government will never sit back
and watch jobs disappear. A Labor Government will
never loiter while economic growth grinds to a halt.

Call me Dan seems to be loitering while economic growth grinds to a halt. Is Call me Dan already on his Xmas break? Dan....ring your office.