Ninety-seven workers at the ports of Sydney and Brisbane in Australia will keep their jobs after a Federal Court granted an injunction that prevents Hutchison Ports making the staff redundant.
Industrial action, which has been taking place at the ports for the past week, is expected to cease following the court’s ruling.
The case was brought before the court by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), after Hutchison Ports made the workers redundant by email and text message last week, according to Australian press.
The judge ruled that the workers were not be made redundant before a full hearing of the dispute, scheduled for August 31. The company must continue to pay their wages until this date.
Hutchison Ports said the redundancies were due to a number of issues, including downsizing its business in Australia.
“We are very hopeful that this company comes to its senses and recognises that there is an enterprise agreement in place that has been negotiated and democratically endorsed by the leadership and it needs to be upheld,” MUA New South Wales branch secretary Paul McAleer told press.
