Local media in Australia is reporting Hong Kong’s Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) is cutting more than 40% of its staff Down Under. HPH is understood to be exasperated at the power and influence of the Maritime Union of Australia. 96 people out of its 222-strong workforce at Port Botany and Brisbane will be made redundant, the Australian Financial Review claimed, citing a memo it had obtained.
Warren Smith, the MUA’s assistant national secretary, blasted HPH’s plans, claiming the operator was looking to weed out union “troublemakers”, ranking employees “like animals at a fair”, with union delegates targeted for redundancy.
In a bulletin to members, the union vowed to fight “as vigorously and for as long as it takes to ensure union-busting plans for workers and negotiated outcomes around automation are met.”
HPH declined to comment on the plans.
