Dockworkers at Australian ports are demanding a 28-hour week on full pay, as artificial intelligence and automation reshape the industry. The Maritime Union of Australia says the push is being driven by DP World, the Dubai-based ports giant, and has put jobs "in the crosshairs."
A study commissioned by the union, carried out by the Centre For International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research, found DP World is testing AI tools "to manage employees and work schedules," part of a pattern of pushing automation into operations "without genuine consultation." The report estimates the drive threatens more than a thousand jobs, over 60% of the dock and maintenance workforce. It also flagged plans for AI-assisted remote-control cranes and driverless vehicles.
DP World workers currently work between 32 and 35 hours a week depending on location, according to the Australian Financial Review, which broke the story of the negotiations. The union argues that if the company wants the productivity gains from automation, it should share the benefit with staff rather than cutting jobs to boost profits.
AI-360