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Australian dock workers demand 28-hour week as AI expands at ports
Workers are pushing for reduced hours with no pay cuts amid DP World trials of AI tools that the union says could threaten more than 60% of dock and maintenance jobs.
Australian dock workers are calling for a 28-hour work week without any loss of pay as artificial intelligence and automation spread across the country's ports, according to BBC Business.
The Maritime Union of Australia said the AI push is being driven by DP World, a Dubai-based port logistics operator, and argued the company is effectively targeting jobs without adequate consultation. The union said DP World should pay a “social dividend,” adding that technology should not cost members their livelihoods to boost profits.
A study commissioned by the MUA and cited by BBC Business warned DP World’s automation program could put up to a thousand jobs at risk, or more than 60% of the dock and maintenance workforce. The study also pointed to proposals for AI-assisted remote-control cranes and driverless vehicles.
DP World has been testing AI to manage employees and work schedules, and the union is seeking the 28-hour week as negotiations continue, the report said. Dock workers currently work about 32 to 35 hours per week depending on location, according to the Australian Financial Review, which first reported the talks.