Important message from our brothers and sisters in the Maritime Union of Australia:
100 workers sacked by Hutchison Ports Australia via email sent at midnight last night.
Quoting from the email:
“…your position will not be retained. There are no redeployment opportunities. The intended last day of your employment will be Friday 14 August 2015. I realise that this is a lot of information to take in. Accordingly you are will (sp) not be required to attend work effective immediately. We will of course pay you your normal salary to your last date of employment.”
There are guards on the gates and workers not even allowed to clear their lockers.
Currently a picket of more than 100 workers at Gate B150 Sirius Rd, Port Botany (access via Foreshore Rd).
The MUA utterly rejects the suggestion that the company is reducing its Australian operations due to a lack of competitiveness.
We believe this is a strategy to increase automation as there are no logical reasons why the company would otherwise give away profitable contracts as they have done recently.
The union is seeking a fair and objective process where all labour data and modelling are put on the table to determine the true nature and scope of the problem.