FED:MUA strike will cripple us, Patrick

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2011
FED:MUA strike will cripple us, Patrick

A new waterfront battle is looming with planned strikes by the Maritime Union of Australia
(MUA) set to cripple stevedoring company Patrick.

The MUA is planning strikes at ports in Sydney .. Melbourne .. Fremantle and possibly
Brisbane from Saturday unless Patrick agrees to key demands on wages and safety.

There has been relative harmony between the union and the company since a bitter waterfront
battle in 1998 .. but the union is set to take industrial action which Patrick says will
cripple productivity.

The MUA is seeking a six per cent pay increase .. a 13 per cent employer contribution
to superannuation .. a five-thousand sign-on bonus and wants independent safety officers
on wharves for each shift.

AAP RTV ah/sb/wz

KEYWORD: WATERFRONT (CANBERRA)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.