PWCS trade unions calls for a 4-hour strike on May 15th

BRISBANE (Scrap Monster) : The trade union heads representing operation staff at the twin coal terminals at the Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS), Newcastle has called for a four-hour strike on Wednesday May  15^th.

Five trade unions had earlier announced unlimited ban on any overtime duty & duties outside the scope of their job description and shift changeover duty. The four-hour stoppage of work from 10AM to 2PM is in replacement of the above. The port authorities however stated that they would try their best to see that the strike does not affect the operations at the port, by engaging contract workers to replace at least some of the striking labors.

The short duration strike action would be jointly observed by The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union, the Transport Workers' Union and the Australian Workers' Union and the MUA.

Negotiations by the PWCS authorities with the union heads during the week are reported to have failed to provide a breakthrough.

PWCS operates one of the world’s largest coal handling operations. PWCS operates two coal terminals, Carrington and Kooragang which are located in the Port of Newcastle. Carrington Coal Terminal has a shiploading capacity of 25 million tonnes per annum (‘Mtpa’) and Kooragang Coal Terminal has a shiploading capacity of 108 Mtpa. These terminals receive, assemble and load Hunter Valley coal for export to customers around the world.