Sacked MUA workers join today’s Vodafone #BigLittleProtest

Sacked MUA workers join today’s Vodafone #BigLittleProtest

Workers sacked by midnight text and email nearly three weeks ago by Hutchison Ports Australia will take their campaign to the streets in three capital cities today to join the #BigLittleProtest run by Vodafone Australia – which is half owned by Hutchison.

The 97 workers – who have still not been rostered on despite a Federal Court injunction granted because of a lack of adequate consultation with respect to forced redundancies – are fed up with Hutchison’s attitude in negotiations.

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) will again meet with Hutchison management at the Fair Work Commission in Sydney today ahead of the Federal Court case that begins next week. The FWC talks have stalled due to the company’s failure to negotiate in good faith.

Hutchison Ports Australia sacked 97 people out of their total workforce of 224 in Brisbane and Sydney just before midnight on August 6. There were guards on the gates of the terminals the following morning and workers were not even allowed to clear their lockers.

MEDIA ALERT: Wednesday 26 August, 2015

What: MUA members to protest in the streets of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane over the sacking of 97 workers by text and email

Where: Sydney: Midday onwards at Pitt St Mall; Brisbane: 9am onwards outside 141 Queen St Mall; Melbourne: 11am-12.30pm at Bourke Street Mall