Local petrol stations are ready to manage potential fuel shortages resulting from a labour dispute at the Port of Darwin.
Negotiations for a new enterprise bargaining agreement between Dutch multinational Vopak and 11 workers at the fuel import facility in the Northern Territory have reached a standstill.
Starting from midnight on Tuesday until August 13, union workers plan to reduce the unloading of liquids from ships by 25 percent and will only assist drivers in emergencies. They will not issue work permits or perform maintenance during this period.
Shane Reside, representing the employees through Bulk Liquids Alliance, stated that the workers are seeking pay parity with Vopak’s workforce in Sydney. He emphasized that they do not intend to prolong the industrial action beyond mid-August, but further measures could be taken if Vopak does not engage in negotiations.
Vopak responded with a commitment to collaborate with the union in achieving a fair agreement promptly.
The NT Government has reassured the public that fuel prices are not expected to change significantly unless there is a prolonged escalation in industrial action. They clarified that fuel prices in the territory are primarily influenced by global supply and demand for petroleum products.
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