Possible Tug Strike in Port Hedland

Negotiations continue between Teekay Shipping and unions representing tug crews at Port Hedland in a bid to resolve the issue of enterprise negotiation agreements, GAC said in its daily Hot Port News report.

The Fair Work Commission has granted permission to the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), the Australian Maritime Officers Union (AMOU) and the Australian Institute of Marine & Power Engineers (AIMPE) to hold protected action ballot orders. The MUA ballot will conclude today, May 12, and the AMOU and AIMPE ballots on May 30 and June 10, respectively.

If industrial action is initiated, the earliest possible date for stoppages by the MUA is May 16; by the AMOU June 3; and by the AIMPE June 14.