As reported previously, more than 100 members and supporters of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) staged a sit-in on 18 June at the Sydney offices of transport company Toll. The protest was called after the workplace death of MUA member Anthony Attard, who was killed loading a Toll ship.

It focused on the company’s role in blocking the adoption of a National Stevedoring Code of Practice (NSCOP).

Just one week after Attard’s death, Michael Kilgariff, general manager of the Australian Logistics Council, of which Toll Holdings is a member, condemned the code. “We would prefer the stevedoring code of practice not go ahead at all”, he said.

The MUA occupation appears to have paid dividends. In a meeting between MUA officials and senior Toll management, the company said that the Mafi trailer involved in the fatal incident, and then later used on a Toll replacement vessel, will now be removed from the operation. The company acknowledged that this matter had been handled extremely badly.

Toll further agreed to address flaws in the company’s safety systems. Finally, the company agreed to a negotiated process that would result in an agreement to enshrine the elements of the NSCOP that apply to Toll operations.

“Comrades, this has been an example of the power of united action”, said the union. “Every branch in the country took Toll on, in their offices, united, disciplined but resolute and angry … It made a big difference in dealing with Toll’s senior managers and has moved them into making a significant concession around NSCOP.”