Qube Newcastle Workforce Imposes Bans over Company Push for Massive Wage Cut

Wharfies at Qube Ports Newcastle will impose work bans from midnight tonight against a company push to slash wages by a whopping 10.5% - a clear attack on their jobs and standards of living.

The Maritime Union of Australia says workers have said an emphatic NO to Qube’s underhanded attempt to drive down wages, which they see as a transparent step toward terminating their workplace agreement.

For the next two weeks from midnight tonight, workers will place bans on –
· Start times

· Work only 7 hour shifts

· No extensions

· No overtime

Qube management has inflamed tensions further by holding secret meetings with workers, offering them permanent positions if they accepted the 10.5% wage cut.

MUA Newcastle Branch Secretary Glen Williams said not one of the members accepted the deal.

“What Australian household can afford to cop a 10.5% cut to their earnings, let alone absorb reductions to their superannuation and other work conditions?” Mr Williams said.

“Qube Ports has hit a new low, preying on job security fears in a sick game playing one employee off against another behind closed doors.”

MUA Assistant National Secretary Warren Smith said the company was trying to turn its back on a quarter of century of bargaining history and outcomes.

“Qube has made it clear it intends on terminating the existing workplace agreement which would effectively trash 25 years of employment history,” Mr Smith said.

“This form of threatening behaviour, where you must accept a 10.5% reduction or face a 20% plus cut is a prime example of how the current IR laws are broken for working people.

“This workforce and the MUA have worked tirelessly to secure first world work conditions on Australia’s waterfront, and we won’t let a giant logistics company like this strip 25 years of bargaining history away.”

If the company terminates their existing agreement, the Qube workforce has decided unanimously not to return to work until a new deal is struck.

http://www.mua.org.au/qube_newcastle_workforce_imposes_bans_over_company_push_for_massive_wage_cut