Darwin Port Workers Prepare for Industrial Action as Pay Dispute Escalates

Darwin, Australia — Workers at Darwin Port are preparing to take protected industrial action from Saturday, November 7, after negotiations over a new enterprise agreement broke down, with unions accusing management of failing to resolve outstanding issues and threatening to use replacement workers.

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and Australian Maritime Officers Union (AMOU) say employees unanimously endorsed the industrial action after an agreement put to a vote was rejected.

The dispute has intensified following allegations by the unions that Darwin Port Chief Executive Officer (CEO) attended the Melbourne Cup while workers were awaiting a resolution to the negotiations.

They also accused management of threatening to bring in strikebreakers ahead of the planned action.

MUA Deputy National Secretary, Warren Smith, criticised the CEO’s priorities, arguing that management should be concentrating on reaching an agreement with employees.

“While workers wait to resolve the agreement, their CEO went to the races.

"Now he's also trying to undermine the workers by calling union busting strikebreakers. That tells you everything about management’s priorities,” Smith said.

Darwin Port CEO, Peter Dummett, has defended his attendance at the Melbourne Cup amid mounting criticism from the maritime unions over the stalled enterprise agreement negotiations and planned industrial action beginning on November 7.

Dummett said his interstate trip was predominantly business-related, involving meetings with national shipping companies and attendance at maritime security forums, rejecting suggestions that his absence from Darwin reflected a lack of commitment to the port or its workforce.

The unions say workers are seeking annual wage increases of 5% over four years, a AU$5,000 sign-on payment and improved superannuation contributions.

The claims come as Darwin Port reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $42.4 million, up from $34 million in the previous year.

Smith said the port’s financial performance demonstrated that employees had contributed to the business and deserved improved conditions.

“The workers have delivered for Darwin Port; it’s time for something back,” he said, calling on the CEO to return to negotiations and settle the outstanding issues.

AMOU Industrial Officer, Renee Ker, said the unions had reduced their initial demands and believed negotiations were close to an agreement before unresolved drafting issues led to a vote.

“Our members did not set out wanting a fight. The MUA and AMOU worked collectively from the beginning, substantially reduced our claims and entered an in-principle position genuinely believing we were heading towards an agreement,” Ker said.

She accused the port of proceeding to a vote without union support while drafting matters remained unresolved.

After employees rejected the agreement, management allegedly refused to provide backpay.

“That is fundamentally unfair. Employees should not be financially penalised for exercising their right to vote against terms they did not accept. Backpay should not be used as a punishment for a No vote,” she said.

The unions also maintain that workers have continued operating the port throughout the lengthy bargaining process without taking protected industrial action.

MUA Northern Territory Branch Secretary, Andy Burford, said employees had agreed to a four-year agreement running until June 30, 2030 and were prepared to compromise on the coverage clause.

The unions want safeguards to prevent management from using new job titles to move positions outside the protection of the enterprise agreement.

Burford said the proposed compromise was intended to help conclude negotiations, but accused management of failing to make the decisions needed to reach a settlement.

The industrial action is scheduled to begin on November 7 with the unions having presented the dispute as a failure of management to address workers’ concerns.