Australian dock workers are demanding a 28-hour work week with no loss of pay as port logistics giant DP World expands its use of artificial intelligence and automation across the country's ports, according to the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA).
The automation push
DP World, headquartered in Dubai, is increasingly testing AI tools to manage employees and work schedules, according to a study by the Centre For International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research, which was commissioned by the MUA. The company has also proposed the use of AI-assisted remote-control cranes and driverless vehicles, the study said. The MUA stated that the AI push has put workers' jobs "in the crosshairs." The union added: "If DP World wants AI and automation, then they must pay the social dividend. The new technology doesn't have to cost our members their jobs or put their livelihoods at risk just so a terminal operator can boost profits." The BBC has contacted DP World for comment.
Union demands and job security concerns
The automation programme is part of a pattern of pushing AI into operations "without genuine consultation" and threatens up to a thousand jobs or more than 60% of the dock and maintenance workforce, the study reported. In response, the MUA called for a 28-hour work week on 3 July, arguing that the technology "should be used to improve workers' lives, not destroy them." According to the Australian Financial Review, which first reported the negotiations, DP World dock workers currently work around 32 to 35 hours a week, depending on their location. The union's demand seeks no reduction in pay alongside the shorter week.
DP World's operations and global context
DP World is state-owned and ultimately controlled by Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It is one of the world's largest port operators. In Australia, the company moves millions of shipping containers each year through its ports in Sydney, Melbourne, and other parts of the country. Globally, DP World operates in 84 countries, employs more than 126,000 people, and handles around a tenth of global container traffic. Its Australian terminals handle approximately 40% of the nation's container shipments, making any disruption significant for supply chains.
Implications for logistics operators
Freight forwarders and shippers using Australian ports should monitor the negotiations closely. A potential shift to a 28-hour work week could alter terminal operating hours and productivity, affecting vessel turnaround times and container availability. The MUA's focus on job losses and the social dividend of automation indicates that talks could be protracted. Any work stoppage or slowdown at DP World terminals—especially in Sydney and Melbourne—would directly impact the 40% of container traffic the operator handles, with ripple effects across Transpacific and intra-Asia trade lanes. For now, no agreement has been reached, and the BBC has sought further comment from both DP World and the MUA.
