MUA claims Hutchison breeched its enterprise agreement with its workers on two grounds – lack of adequate consultation with respect to redundancies and ignoring the dispute resolution clause. So MUA is seeking an injunction, plus penalties and damages.
Paddy Crumlin, MUA National Secretary, said Hutchison’s conduct was outrageous. “The MUA is taking this Federal Court action because the union and the Australian public don’t think it’s good enough to sack your workers at midnight by text and email.”
He added: “This conduct by Hutchison doesn’t pass the pub test. We’re outraged and the outpouring of community support for the sacked workers suggests the Australian public is too.”
Since the sackings, protestors have been forming blockades at Port Botany in Sydney and the Port of Brisbane.
According to various news sources, staff at Brisbane have been blocking the road to Berth 11 where a ship was due to dock this Monday but failed to arrive.
Protesters have vowed to continue the blockades until the decision is reversed. They ignored a Fair Work Commission order issued last Friday to return to work.
Hutchison has told the press that the job losses had to be made due to substantial financial losses.
The operator has been approached for comment.