Wage dispute to affect Webb Dock tomorrow

"Employees from our auto, bulk and general Webb Dock facility in Melbourne will take industrial action for 24 hours tomorrow," an Asciano spokeswoman said yesterday.

"The industrial action is specific to this site only.

"We are disappointed that the union has chosen this form of action and the company is keen to continue negotiations to finalise an Enterprise Agreement as soon as possible.

"The company has proposed salary increases we believe are both reasonable and appropriate in the current environment.

"There is one vessel due into Webb Dock over the period and we are putting in place measures to minimise the impact on our operations and customers."

The Victorian branch of the Maritime Union of Australia  had not returned Lloyd's List DCN's calls by deadline but the Herald-Sun quoted state secretary Kevin Bracken as saying that more than two years of stalled talks had led to the industrial action.

“It is protected industrial action, which legally we can take under legislation," Mr Bracken said.

"We had talks yesterday and all they offered was 5% for the next 18 months and I don't think any union would be accepting that.

“The biggest thing is that they've moved away from time and penalties as a principle and the men don't want to move away from them.''

The Port of Melbourne Corporation was not a party to the talks but "we hope the matter can be resolved amicably and speedily", a spokesman said.