Port Kembla Coal Terminal (PKCT) workers have been locked out again as the company tries to temporarily halt ongoing industrial unrest.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The move is the latest in a long-running dispute between the company, its workforce and the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU) over job security.
The CFMMEU said the key sticking point in ongoing enterprise agreement negotiations was PKCT management’s refusal to carry over a clause that would prevent a sacked permanent employee being replaced by a casual.
Workers ramped up their fight last week – striking for seven days at the end of a week-long, PKCT-imposed lockout.
The strike ended on Saturday. However, PKCT has said it would lock workers out again for six days.
In a statement, PKCT said it wanted the striking staff to return to work and that it had offered the CFMMEU a “short moratorium on ongoing industrial action”.
“PKCT remains committed to resuming negotiations for a new enterprise agreement in good faith but can’t do so when the business is being constantly disrupted by the industrial action,” it said.
The latest week-long strike follows 33 different stop work notices since December.
“In the face of escalating disruption and a refusal by the union to accept the company’s request for a short moratorium on further industrial unrest, PKCT has no choice but to inform striking employees, not to return to work for six days,” it said.
PKCT has ship-loading and pre-scheduled maintenance work planned for this week.
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
