Maritime workers have staged a snap 48-hour strike at Qube Ports’ facility in Melbourne, prompting the company to bring workers in by helicopter in an echo of the infamous and divisive 1998 waterfront dispute between Patricks and the Maritime Union of Australia.

MUA workers have picketed the Webb Dock MIRRAT car facility. Credit:Eddie Jim

Striking MUA workers picketed the Webb Dock MIRRAT terminal, which handles bulk car imports, as part of protected action under an enterprise bargaining period with Qube. The snap strike began on Saturday.

MUA assistant national secretary Warren Smith said the workforce had been negotiating a new workplace agreement with Qube for nearly three years and was seeking to reinstate a rostering system scaled back in 2014 when the company was financially struggling.

He said Qube had responded by threatening to terminate the current agreement at the Fair Work Commission and return workers to the industry award, which would result in a 40 per cent pay cut.