Former Port Waratah Coal Services Supervisors Working as "Strike-breakers"

BY SARAH JAMES

The Maritime Union of Australia is furious that at least two former supervisors of Port Waratah Coal Services are now working as strike-breakers during the industrial dispute at the Port Kembla Coal Terminal.

Long-running tensions regarding their current enterprise agreement came to a head at Port Kembla on Sunday, with more than 60 workers being locked out by the company.

Workers affected by this lockout will have their pay suspended for five days.

This move has drawn criticism from the Maritime Union of Australia, who argue it is ultimately stalling any enterprise agreement negotiations going ahead.

"Going outside and hiring external strike-breaking labour at the end of the day is not beneficial to anybody in finalising an agreement that has any stability going forward," said Deputy President of South Coast Labour Council Garry Keane.

"The workers in that terminal have kept that place going for many years. They've sat down and done numerous enterprise agreements, and they've never come to this situation. They've always been willing to sit down, work out agreements and they still are. But they're not going to do while they've got a gun held to their head that strips back the entitlements of 25 years," he elaborated.

Port Waratah Coal Services

Father calls for a coronial inquest into son's death

BY RACHEL STORER

Tim Macpherson, beloved son and father. (Facebook)

The heartbroken father of the Hunter man who was killed during construction of the Barangaroo Ferry Hub said he never expected to bury his son and is now calling for an inquiry.

Tim Macpherson was tragically crushed by a falling steel beam in March and never went home to his wife Ashleigh, son Jack and his unborn daughter.

His father Iain Macpherson is now calling for a coronial inquest into his death and has the backing of the MUA and NSW Senator Doug Cameron.

Mr Macpherson said there were several safety issues on the barge Tim was working on including cluttered work spaces and piles of building materials restricting access on deck.

He was told by another worker who escaped the beam that "Timmy had no where to go mate... no where to go," because of the clutter.

He also claims the barge itself shouldn't have been in operation in the first place as it didn't pass initial safety tests.

Construction of the Barangaroo Ferry Hub where Tim was killed. (ABC)

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) claims the state government's ferry wharf which opened in June is riddled with safety concerns including overheating black paint on surfaces and metal gates that are too heavy for staff.

Mr Macpherson received only one letter of condolence from the NSW government and asked if their "high quality transport infrastructure" is worth losing lives for.

"The state government were beating their chest about the great thing it was to have a project moving forward on time.

"Whatever the dollar cost, there are people who go home to their families in wheelchairs or didn't go home at all just to see that 'marvelous' edifice built," Mr Macpherson said.

Mr Macpherson wants to ensure his daughter-in-law is properly looked after and has praised the CMFEU and MUA for their help lobbying for the inquest.

He said he also hopes parents tell their children that no job is worth the money if the risks are too high.

Wharfies striking over mismanagement

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Some of Newcastle's wharf workers are going on a four-hour strike this morning over frustration with their bosses at Qube Port.

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) says the stoppage at Qube Port at Kooragang will go for four hours from 8am.

The company is reportedly offering permanent positions to some workers if they take a 10.5 per cent wage cut.

"Our members aren't prepared to accept that offer, what family in this climate can accept a 10.5 per cent wage cut. Our members aren't happy about that so they've decided to take some industrial action," said MUA Newcastle secretary Glen Williams.

"The company through mismanagement continue to lose contracts - this company was the preferred bulk handler in this port and the only thing that's changed up there is the management so our members are being asked to accept a 10.5 per cent wage cut for the mismanagement of this company."

The action isn't stopping this morning, for the next two weeks workers will only work seven hour shifts with no extensions and no overtime. 

Image afr.com.au