The Australian Road Transport Industrial Organisation (ARTIO) has taken action against the Maritime Union of Australia’s (MUA) attempt to change the Stevedoring Industry Award 2010.

ARTIO has made a formal submission to the Fair Work Commission objecting to the MUA’s moves.

“The MUA application would result in a broadening of the coverage of the Stevedoring Industry Award resulting in the MUA achieving increased industrial representation in waterfront activities, beyond those that currently exist,” ARTIO secretary and treasurer Peter Garske said

“The MUA application will most certainly lead to demarcation disputes with the Transport Workers Union resulting in interruption to the efficiency and productivity of Waterfront Operators.”

The MUA is trying to use the Award Modernisation process to expand the definition of ‘Stevedoring Industry’ to include many functions and duties performed by Road Transport Operators operating under the Road Transport and Distribution (RTD) Award 2010.

The union wants ‘stevedoring’ to include the trucking of all cargo or other goods from wharf sheds, wharf storage or stacking areas, to and from the ship.

They also want to encompass workers involved in the cleaning, maintenance, packing and unpacking of containers.

“Such tasks do not specifically relate to the loading or unloading of cargo or goods to or from the ship, which is the well-established and understood definition of what constitutes stevedoring activity,” Garske said.

The ARTIO argues that the definition of stevedoring work must relate only to the loading and unloading of a ship within the designated precincts of a wharf.

The transport industry lobby says it should exclude the work of the driver of the truck engaged in the delivery of freight to and from the wharf.