Strike will see wharfs 'grind to a halt'

Stevedoring company Patrick says wharf workers' industrial action will log-jam about half of Australia's container trade, or 35,000 shipping containers.

The action will hit terminals in Melbourne, Sydney and Fremantle for seven days and Brisbane for six days from Wednesday.

Patrick director Paul Garaty says the action, in the form of bans and limitations, will impact 32 vessels and effectively see the terminals "grind to a halt".

"This will have a huge impact on Australian importers and exporters hurting everyone from small businesses awaiting deliveries to Australian farmers exporting their goods to market and the transport industry who are reliant on container trade to make a living."

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has rejected Patrick's offer of a four per cent pay rise with an additional one per cent offered if "internationally recognised safety, productivity and efficiency targets" are met.

The MUA wants three annual six per cent pay rises and an increase to superannuation from nine to 13 per cent.

Patrick says the union's pay claim would add about $120 million to the company's costs over a three-year period without productivity offsets.

The MUA disputes that figure and says Patrick's refusal to consider safety and training improvements left it no choice but to proceed with the action.

"Negotiations for a new industrial agreement are now eight months old," MUA deputy national secretary Mick Doleman said.

"While progress has been made, the company's latest offer fails to address the union's legitimate concerns around safety and training.

"The limited work bans will not stop container terminals at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle from operating.

"The company has been notified of the legally protected action, in line with the provisions of the Fair Work Act."

Mr Doleman said the union remained committed to good faith bargaining.

But Mr Garaty said the union's quick response to Patrick's latest offer raised doubts about that claim.

"The union issued this action less than 24 hours after the company put an offer to its representatives," he said.

MUA workers have already staged protests at Melbourne, Sydney, Fremantle and Brisbane terminals.