ITF comment on threatened lockout of Melbourne wharfies - MGN News

ITF comment on threatened lockout of Melbourne wharfies

News Release International Transport Federation (ITF) January 6, 2012

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<DIV><SPAN class=079523011-05012012><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=098173611-05012012> 
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=Subhead1><A name=OLE_LINK2></A><A
name=OLE_LINK1></A><STRONG><SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt" lang=EN-GB>5 January
2012</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"
lang=EN-GB></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></STRONG></P><SPAN></SPAN>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">ITF comment on threatened
lockout of </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Melbourne</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"> wharfies</SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">ITF
dockers’ section secretary Frank Leys stated today: “The ITF notes with great
concern that DP World has announced plans to lock out dockworkers in
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Melbourne</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> on 10 January.
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>This will be the second </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>DPW</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-GB> lockout of recent weeks,
after dockers in </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>Adelaide</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-GB> were targeted this
week.”</SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB></SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>He continued: “The ITF wholly condemns the practice of locking out
workers. This is not an acceptable course of action, particularly from a global
employer that values its ‘commitment to our people and our customers’.
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>DPW</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-GB>’s current position is
not only harmful to its customers, but is damaging negotiations. The ITF
strongly urges the company to withdraw the lockout notice and engage in
meaningful dialogue in order to achieve a negotiated settlement acceptable to
all parties. Anything less could seriously damage its relations with its
workforce worldwide, as well as its image as a company to do business
with.”</SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB></SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>He concluded: “Dockers worldwide are ready to show their solidarity
with their colleagues in </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>Australia</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-GB>.”</SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB></SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>Background</SPAN></B></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">DP World in
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Australia</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> has announced plans
for a lockout in </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Melbourne</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">, to follow a legally
protected 24 hour stoppage by stevedores there which will begin at
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">22:30</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> on Sunday. The
industrial action is entirely legal and accompanies ongoing negotiations with
the company – the previous agreement on pay and working expired six months ago.
The ITF views the lockouts as a misguided and aggressive tactic that – like the
worldwide lockout of Qantas workers last year which seriously damaged the
company’s image and employer/employee relations – has no place in Australian or
world industrial relations. The </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">ITF and its affiliates worldwide,
particularly those in DP World terminals, are watching the developments with
great concern.<SPAN
style="COLOR: black"></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P></SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>