SYDNEY — Members of the Maritime Union of Australia employed at the Glebe Island car terminal refused to go to work on October 14 after hearing of a NSW Labor government plan to fast-track the site's closure. With the support of Unions NSW and the Transport Workers Union, 50 MUA members picketed the site from 5am for 12 hours.
On October 10, NSW Labor Premier Morris Iemma announced plans to close the Glebe Island terminal in late 2008 and re-locate it to Port Kembla. The government had previously guaranteed that the terminal would be kept open until 2012, with an option to remain until 2017.
Australian Amalgamated Terminals, the joint Patrick-P&O company that operates the Glebe Island car terminal, looks likely to be the sole operator at the planned Port Kembla terminal.
Shane Bentley
From Green Left Weekly, October 26, 2005.
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