MUA picket remains in place as terminal keeps watch following injunction
Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) remains picket-bound, with little change to the situation even after a Supreme Court of Victoria injunction.
Despite the court order against “preventing, hindering or interfering with the free passage by persons and/or vehicles to or from the site”, which remains in force until 4.30 pm on Friday, the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) picket, bolstered by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), has been effective in keeping containers from being moved, according to a VICT spokesperson.
“We are still monitoring the picket for any possible breaches of the injunctions, which was made against the MUA last week,” the spokesperson says.
“We are also monitoring the picket to see whether there is any further illegal picketing and we are toting up the damages as we go.”
The injunction also orders that any protest be 100 metres or more away from the terminal entrance.
Some employees have gained access to their offices but there has been no movement on the 1,000 containers said to be stranded.
The MUA says it has complied with the court order.
Earlier, VICT CEO Anders Dømmestrup warned against the continuation of picket at Webb Dock.
“The court’s injunction spells a clear warning for anybody else who thinks it is OK to prevent VICT going about its ordinary business of serving the needs of Victorians and our State’s exporters and importers,” VICT says.
“We expect to be able to resume work and to enter our site in the normal way.
“We will continue to attempt to open the gates every day.
“If there is any illegal picketing preventing us doing so we will commence further legal proceedings and have briefed the federal government on the matter.”