Wharf dispute delays unloading of 20 ships

SYDNEY (AAP) - May 25 - Stevedoring company Patrick has accused waterside workers of holding the country to ransom after a worsening pay dispute delayed the unloading of 20 ships.
Patrick warned the dispute could shut down ports around Australia for the next seven days, after the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) declined a company invitation to enter conciliation and arbitration by a 5pm (AEST) Wednesday deadline.
The industrial action means ships and containers will be held up at ports around the country, in a situation reminiscent of the notorious 1998 waterfront lock-out.
The MUA had planned a week of work restrictions at ports in Sydney and Brisbane from Wednesday, and in Fremantle from Thursday, over a pay dispute.
But Patrick had warned workers would not be paid if they took part in the action.
The dispute escalated when some wharfies showed up at Patrick's terminal in the Sydney suburb of Botany and at the Brisbane docks to find the ports had been shut down.
MUA deputy national secretary Mick Doleman later declined a written invitation from Patrick to enter into voluntary conciliation and arbitration before Fair Work Australia, saying it was "somewhat ironic" the company wanted to embrace arbitration now.
"We have considered your offer and, at this stage, we are not inclined to accept your proposal," he said in a letter, adding the union would treat the offer open and continue to consider it, despite the company's deadline.
"We urge the company to continue to meet and negotiate with us over the outstanding issue."
Mr Doleman said the union was optimistic of a resolution to the dispute.
Earlier on Wednesday, the union said it had previously offered conciliation and arbitration avenues but was knocked back by the company.
"We put to Patrick, in our enterprise agreement, that we would have conciliation and arbitration on all matters during the life of the agreement, where we can't take protected industrial action and we will arbitrate on every matter," he told journalists.
"They refused that on every occasion.
"Now, for media and for other purposes, they want to have arbitration and conciliation. We say no."
Patrick director Paul Garaty said the ports could not function on a limited workforce and the union was "holding the country to ransom".
With no agreement reached, he expected the dispute to last seven days, which could cost Patrick about $8 million in revenue.
Mr Garaty maintained the MUA was asking for a 20 per cent pay increase, not the six per cent it had indicated.
"They are talking about a six per cent wage increase, four per cent superannuation, increases in long service leave from 10 weeks to 14 week, upgrades in basic classifications, additional manning," he said.
"(That's) over $100 million cost to our business, 20 per cent of our labour cost in one year. No business can accept that."
Shipping Australia chief executive Llew Russell said 12 ships had been held up in Sydney and eight in Brisbane and around 25,000 containers had been locked-in.
"As it goes on, we're going to have to look at more drastic measures of going to New Zealand and other places," he said.
After having gone through the 1998 dispute, Mr Russell said he hoped the two parties worked the matter out with Fair Work Australia as soon as possible.
Gavin Bostick, a Botany port worker for 22 years, said his colleagues wanted their concerns heard.
"If (a repeat of 1998) does happen, and I hope it doesn't, it would be a sad and sorry day for all," he said.