DP World Industrial Action Update – FRIDAY R&D CANCELLED

Dear Valued Customers & Partners,

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) continue to be in contact with DP World senior management in terms of the latest information on the Protected Industrial Action (PIA) impacting their container terminals nationally.

DP World have today released the following statement highlighting a severe escalation of industrial action culminating in full work bans at DP World’s Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle terminals, while limited work is being performed at DP World’s Melbourne terminal:

We write to provide an update on the ongoing Industrial Action dispute at our DP World terminals across Australia.

We are once again calling on the Australian Federal Government to intervene in our dispute with the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) following a severe escalation of industrial action that has seen DP World employees encouraged by the MUA to not work across the nation’s terminals.

This has today culminated in full work bans at DP World’s Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle terminals, while limited work is being performed at DP World’s Melbourne terminal, resulting in highly disrupted operations. The employees participating in work bans will not receive any wages for their shift.

Ongoing industrial action despite the non-acceptance of partial work bans is set to further damage the nation’s supply chain with delays on essential items, which are already between two and eight weeks behind schedule, to now widen further. The impact will also be felt by employees who are set to forgo wages, further exacerbating the negative impact of months of industrial action.

Our economic modelling shows the Industrial Action taken to date has cost the nation $34 million in lost productivity per day, building on an average impact of $84 million per week since the MUA’s protected industrial action commenced in September 2023. The backlog of containers across Australian ports now exceeds 48,000 and will take months to recover from.

From today, employees who choose to engage in the work bans at DP World’s Australian terminals will not receive wages until they return to their full normal duties. This is in line with a new stance introduced on 8 January 2024 in a bid to stop the MUA from accelerating and prolonging industrial action.

In light of the disruption caused by the PIA, we want to reassure you that where possible we will prioritise critical supplies, focusing on vessels with perishable foods, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid. Where there is an essential need to assess those types of cargoes DP World will work with our employees, and our competitors, to assist in minimising delays.

We thank you for your ongoing patience and continued support during these times.

Sincerely,
Ravi Sheshadri
Vice President – Commercial – Ports & Terminals
Oceania – APAC
DP World

FULL DP WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT HERE

 

FREMANTLE

At 9.35am AEDT this morning, DP World Fremantle released the following detail:

Due to Industrial Action there is NO R+D ops today, Friday 12/01. 
All slots currently booked will be cancelled.
R & D ops resume Saturday 13/01 @ 0600
Vessel schedule remains unchanged. ELA Imports LFD is still Saturday 12/01.
We apologize for an inconvenience caused.
Please contact Emma if you have any questions relating to PIA which may affect your business.

BRISBANE

At 9.00am AEDT this morning, DP World Brisbane released the following detail:

Please be reminded that as per previous ONESTOP notices, there ARE no Reefer and no old yard / OOG operations today, this applies until tomorrow morning, Saturday 13/01 from 07:00.
All REEFER SLOTS HAVE BEEN CLEARED FOR TODAY – PLEASE LIST these slots if you’re unable to utilise and we will cancel.

At 8.50am AEDT this morning, DP World Brisbane released the following detail:

Please be REMINDED that TODAY- Friday (Today), 12/01 there will be an 3-hour Terminal IT Outage. Please note that Terminal operations will be offline between 10:00 to 13:00 TODAY – Friday 12/01.
Please be aware that last slot will be 09:00 12/01 for In-gates to be closed from 10:00 12/01.
MELBOURNE

At 7.00am AEDT this morning, DP World Port Botany released the following detail:

Due to protected industrial action DPW WST will not open for road operations on Friday 12th Jan from 0600hrs, until Friday 12th Jan 1400hrs.
Slots in these zones will be cancelled.
The road is proposed to reopen at 1400hrs Friday 12th Jan.

Further updates will be provided this afternoon as information becomes available, please check the daily 1-Stop Notifications. We are actively working to reduce service disruptions and will keep you updated.
SYDNEY

At 6.50am AEDT this morning, DP World Port Botany released the following detail :

This morning DPW has attempted to engage employees in full R&D operations, this has not been accepted by CMMFEU members who have refused to work as required by DPW.

DPWA management apologises for impact this has on our customers’ business and we appreciate your patience as we actively try to resolve this situation.

SILA would like to remind our clients that transport companies have communicated that surcharges for weekends, public holidays and after-hours will be applied as they strive to retrieve containers within their allotted free time.

These bans & stoppages continue to significantly impact our services, and we appreciate your understanding and flexibility during this period. Our team is committed to minimising disruptions and ensuring the smoothest operations possible. We will keep you updated on any further developments.

We acknowledge the potential impact of these disruptions; however, please be advised that SILA will not assume liability for any additional charges arising from these industrial actions.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership and should you have any questions or concerns, kindly reach out to our dedicated team!

SILA Imports – imports@sila.net.au
SILA Exports – exports@sila.net.au
SILA Sales – sales@sila.net.au
T: (+61) 07 3908 1690

SILA Global Pty Ltd