Day four of the MUA picket at the Port of Brisbane

Infuriated workers have formed picket line at Hutchison Ports in Botany, NSW after 97 employees from Sydney and Brisbane were sacked by email.

‘It is the expectation of Hutchison Ports Australia that all forms of industrial actions will cease immediately and the Maritime Union of Australia will ensure that the order is complied with, ‘ HPA chief financial officer Chee Keong Chan said in a statement.

“This has been a hard decision and follows our announcement six weeks ago that the company is downsizing its service offering to the market”.

The Maritime Union of Australia described as “unconscionable”, “barbaric” and “unAustralian” and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten called it “heartless, callous and stupid”.

The ABC news reported that a Fair Work Commission order issued on Friday evening to make the workers of the company report to work is being defied by the workers.

Labor and the Maritime Union have attacked as “heartless” a comment from federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz that sackings via text message may be appropriate. Protesters have gathered at the port of Brisbane and in Sydney, furious with Hutchison Ports for sacking 97 staff across the two cities late last Thursday night via text and email, citing substantial financial losses.

“We will do whatever we have to do to defend those workers’ working lives”, Carnegie said.

Senator Cameron then asked whether midnight text messages and emails had “replaced balaclavas and dogs as the preferred method of sacking waterfront workers” – a reference to the 1998 waterside dispute when private security guards wearing balaclavas and accompanied by savage dogs took over Patrick Stevedores’ port facilities.

“Labor will always stand up for workers, unlike the LNP which has already shown its callousness by attempting to justify these sackings”.

Comment has been sought from Senator Abetz and Hutchison Ports.

“Senator Eric Abetz’s comments yesterday are heartless and demonstrative of a government that is out of touch with the challenges facing Australian workers”, O’Connor said.

The MUA’s McAleer said Abetz’s comment showed the government is out of touch.

“He obviously has not got workers’ interests at heart”, he said.