Minister rules out intervening in DP World port dispute

Workplace Minister Tony Burke has hosed down suggestions of a ministerial intervention in a long-running industrial dispute between unions and stevedore company DP World.

Mr Burke, who met with representatives from the Maritime Union of Australia and DP World on Thursday, said he expected both parties to come to the table on the pay dispute.

While there had been calls for the federal government to intervene in the case to minimise disruption at the ports, Mr Burke said that would not happen.

“The concept that where every other business in Australia is expected to negotiate with their workforce, but this business wants to rely on ministerial intervention, is not a view that impresses me,” he told reporters in Sydney.

“(DP World’s) presumption that they would find a political answer, rather than do what every other business in Australia is expected to do was misguided.”

Workplace Minister Tony Burke has ruled out intervening in the pay dispute. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

DP World, which runs several port terminals across Australia, had been in dispute with unions over pay, with the stevedore threatening to dock the wages of workers involved in industrial action.

Unions have called for a 16 per cent pay rise for its workers, bringing DP World into line with other port operators.

“Australians are sick to death of having highly profitable companies say everything is the fault of them, having to pay their workforce the same as their competitors,” Mr Burke said.

“I have made clear to the company as well if they had invested as much into negotiating as they have into their media campaign, they may already have an agreement.”

DP World accounts for 40 per cent of cargo coming through Australia’s ports.

Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra called for both parties in the industrial dispute to come to a resolution.

“Australian retailers need unimpeded access to the global supply chain to operate and this industrial action is starting to have an unacceptable impact on the flow of goods from overseas suppliers into our sector,” he said.

Australian Retailers Association chief Paul Zahra called for a resolution to the disagreement. (Jeremy Ng/AAP PHOTOS)

“We are increasingly concerned that the inconvenience of out-of-stocks and delays in fulfilling customer orders could soon escalate into  higher prices on everyday essentials if the situation is not resolved soon.”

Professor of workplace law at RMIT University Anthony Forsyth said ministerial powers in resolving industrial disputes had not been used, and they were extremely unlikely to be enacted in the DP World matter.

“The company could instead seek an order from the Fair Work Commission, terminating the Maritime Union of Australia’s industrial action on the same grounds – harm to the community or the economy,” he said.

“DP World would have to provide evidence that the union’s work bans are having a crippling effect on stevedoring services and disrupting the supply chain of essential goods and products.”