Maritime Union calls out ‘systematic’ wage theft in Sydney ports

The Maritime Union of Australia has called out the rife underpayment of NSW Port Authority security workers employed by outsourced service providers.

On Tuesday (14 April), the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) said that security workers manning cruise terminals in Sydney Harbour were being systemically underpaid by outsourced service providers.

According to the MUA, the “wage heist” kicked off after the government-owned NSW Port Authority engaged Singapore-owned multinational Certis to manage the security of international passenger cruise terminals in Sydney.

Following a 12-month-long investigation, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) confirmed that these contracted security services had been further outsourced or subcontracted to five separate operators, the MUA said. The union warned that this was a breach of the written contract Certis held with the Port Authority.

Of the five sub-contractors, the MUA said three had been found to be stealing wages, one had gone into liquidation, and one was “ghosting” the FWO, and “seemingly impossible” to find.

“We believe that millions of dollars in wages have been systematically stolen by criminal security companies working under contract to the NSW state government in the international cruise terminals of Sydney Harbour, including at Circular Quay and White Bay,” MUA Sydney branch organiser Shane Reside said.

“We all know that workers in the security industry in NSW are overwhelmingly drawn from migrant, working-class communities. It is an absolute disgrace that these people are being robbed by criminal outfits employed under contract to the NSW state government.”

When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for the Fair Work Ombudsman confirmed that investigations were underway.

“The Fair Work Ombudsman is investigating security subcontractors of Certis. We are unable to comment further,” the spokesperson said.

The Port Authority of NSW said it was working with the FWO to address the concerns raised by the MUA.

“Allegations of contractor non-compliance are taken very seriously, and the Port Authority is working with the Fair Work Ombudsman and [has] conducted its own internal investigation into the allegations against Certis and its contractor,” a spokesperson for the Port Authority of NSW said.

“Port Authority remunerates contractors with the expectation of full wage compliance. If it is substantiated that those providing security services for Certis or its subcontractor have not been paid in full, we expect our contractor to ensure these matters are promptly rectified.”

The Port Authority added that it had appointed a new security provider to take over from Certis, with the transition slated to be complete by 28 May.

“Separately, following a comprehensive open-market procurement process, Port Authority appointed a new security provider with strong governance practices, Chief Services Group,” the spokesperson said.

“They will manage security services at the Overseas Passenger Terminal and White Bay Cruise Terminal with a transition period now underway and to be implemented by 28 May.”