Wharf workers at Qube Ports Newcastle have declared stop work action for 48 hours following the threat of a 10.5 per cent pay cut.
Footage below from Alexander Heinke of NBN News shows workers picketing outside Qube Ports Newcastle on Kooragang Island (WARNING: Explicit language).
#Qube wharfies start 48hr strike action. They say "savage" cuts will see some workers lose $10,000 off their pay @MaritimeUnionAU @nbnnews pic.twitter.com/ADjefJF1cd— Alexander Heinke (@heinkealex) August 16, 2017
Maritime Union of Australia Newcastle Branch Secretary Glen Williams says the proposed cuts are an unnecessary punishment on undeserving workers.
"The company up there [Qube] has been severely mismanaged...and our members are being asked to pay the price for that," Williams said. "We're not prepared to do that."
"We have no confidence that a wage cut would make any difference to that company gaining any contracts in this port."
The action comes after negotiations broke down yesterday, with Williams saying talks with the company have been ongoing for years.
"We've been negotiating for two years, no family in Newcastle can afford a 10 and a half per cent pay cut," Williams said. "So we are asking the company to withdraw their claim, come back to the negotiation table, and get an agreement that is fair and equal to everybody."
If an agreement is not reached within the next 48 hours, Qube workers are planning to impose further work bans in the next two weeks, including no overtime and limited shift hours.
