Australia: Wharfies unload Chinese ship after stand-off over coronavirus fears

Wharfies unload Chinese ship after stand-off over coronavirus fears
Timna Jacks April 3, 2020 https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/victoria/wharfies-unload-cargo...

A cargo ship from China carrying medical supplies, toilet paper and tinned food is now being unloaded at the Port of Melbourne, following a dispute over coronavirus fears between the maritime union and stevedores DP World.

About 90 wharfies were stood down this week after they refused to unload the Xin Da Lian, which arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday after a 12-day voyage from a port in Taiwan.

The length of the Xin Da Lian's journey from the port of Kaohsiung meant there was not enough time for a two-week coronavirus quarantine period to be completed so when the ship tied up at Swanson Dock on Tuesday, wharfies refused to take off the cargo.

By Wednesday evening, with the 14-day period over, dock workers agreed to start unloading the more than 2000 shipping containers onboard the ship.

Maritime Union of Australia organiser Aarin Moon said it was unsafe for workers to mingle with crew members who had not been in quarantine for two weeks.

"We think the rules applying to everyone around the country should apply to wharfies as well.

"We see Qantas baggage handlers have contracted it from contaminated surfaces and bags that have come from overseas ... these crew members would have been working on the vessel that our members were going into."

The Australian Border Force deemed the vessel compliant and says the 14-day rule only applies to crews aboard ships, rather than wharfies unloading the cargo.

A DP World spokeswoman said that the union should not make up their own quarantine rules.

"In future, we’re hopeful the Maritime Union will acknowledge they are not biosecurity and quarantine experts, and respect advice and rules provided by our government," the spokeswoman said.

"DP World Australia employees want to work.

"We implore the union to step aside and allow trade to keep flowing and let our team members make sure our supermarkets and medical professionals have these critical supplies.”