❓ Mr. Rundle questions the Premier about potential Fremantle Port closure due to industrial action over pay demands. The Premier assures the government is monitoring the situation, negotiating in good faith, and mitigating impacts.
AnsweredQoN 528Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INDUSTRIAL
ACTION — FREMANTLE PORT
528. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
WA's critical gateway to the sea, Fremantle port, is
set to face closure for two days starting this weekend, sparking chaos for the
state's fragile supply routes as key workers walk off the job over
demands for an 18 per cent pay rise over three years.
Given the Premier's government's striking
inability to come to an arrangement with the unions, leading to the disruption
of WA businesses and industry, what is the government's plan to keep
this critical gateway, the Fremantle port, operating?
ACTION — FREMANTLE PORT
528. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
WA's critical gateway to the sea, Fremantle port, is
set to face closure for two days starting this weekend, sparking chaos for the
state's fragile supply routes as key workers walk off the job over
demands for an 18 per cent pay rise over three years.
Given the Premier's government's striking
inability to come to an arrangement with the unions, leading to the disruption
of WA businesses and industry, what is the government's plan to keep
this critical gateway, the Fremantle port, operating?
AnswerView source ↗
The WA government is closely monitoring the situation. We
understand that Fremantle Ports has been negotiating with the union in good
faith and will continue to do so. That is the way we do things on our side of
the Parliament. We work with unions to make sure that they get great outcomes
and conditions for their workers. We have received assurances from Fremantle
Ports that it is working to mitigate any potential impact of the planned
industrial action. The industrial action
will only affect the movement of ships to and from the berths within the port
for those 48 hours . All loading and unloading of ships will continue,
along with all other landside port activity, such as the movement of containers
by trucks and trains. Many vessels spend more than two days alongside to load
or unload goods and will not be impacted at all by this industrial action.
Fremantle Ports will continue to ensure that vessels are brought to the wharves
ahead of the action commencing, which will help to reduce any delays during the
departure times.
We are working with the
union to make sure that it gets clarity on our pay offer. It is a good pay
offer. It is consistent and within the parameters of the same pay offer
that was offered to teachers—one that teachers embraced—so we
see no reason why the union should not recommend to its workers that they
accept the offer.
These conversations are often difficult, and sometimes they
take a little bit longer than we would all like, and that can fray patience,
but we are committed to making sure that we negotiate in good faith—to
ensure that we continue to provide a good wages and conditions outcome and to
make sure that everyone can benefit from our public sector wages policy.
understand that Fremantle Ports has been negotiating with the union in good
faith and will continue to do so. That is the way we do things on our side of
the Parliament. We work with unions to make sure that they get great outcomes
and conditions for their workers. We have received assurances from Fremantle
Ports that it is working to mitigate any potential impact of the planned
industrial action. The industrial action
will only affect the movement of ships to and from the berths within the port
for those 48 hours . All loading and unloading of ships will continue,
along with all other landside port activity, such as the movement of containers
by trucks and trains. Many vessels spend more than two days alongside to load
or unload goods and will not be impacted at all by this industrial action.
Fremantle Ports will continue to ensure that vessels are brought to the wharves
ahead of the action commencing, which will help to reduce any delays during the
departure times.
We are working with the
union to make sure that it gets clarity on our pay offer. It is a good pay
offer. It is consistent and within the parameters of the same pay offer
that was offered to teachers—one that teachers embraced—so we
see no reason why the union should not recommend to its workers that they
accept the offer.
These conversations are often difficult, and sometimes they
take a little bit longer than we would all like, and that can fray patience,
but we are committed to making sure that we negotiate in good faith—to
ensure that we continue to provide a good wages and conditions outcome and to
make sure that everyone can benefit from our public sector wages policy.
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