The Fair Work Commission has ordered the Construction, Forestry Maritime Mining Energy Union (CFMMEU) to cease industrial action that was affecting Tasmanian trade.
Toll Shipping successfully applied to the Commission for an immediate halt on what the company claimed was a ‘go-slow’ by union members at its docks, which had reportedly resulted in a 30 per cent drop in container movements in and out of Tasmania in recent weeks.
The Tasmanian Government claimed the CFMMEU’s actions had led to significant container backlogs at both ends of the shipping run from Melbourne to Burnie, causing shortages of some consumer goods and raw materials, while also preventing exports of fresh produce from reaching the mainland.
Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations, Christian Porter said that while Australia was grappling with the COVID-19 outbreak, now was not the time for any group to be adding further pressure to the Australian economy.
He said he had met with senior union and industry representatives and asked them to consider the broader national interest.
“That means putting vested interests to one side to ensure that businesses can continue to operate at maximum capacity, especially those producing key consumer goods such as food and pharmaceuticals,” Mr Porter said.
“At the same time, we also need to find ways to support Australian workers, and in particular casuals, who may be impacted by the virus and its knock-on effects to the wider economy,” he said.
