SIMIC

Workplace agreements between the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and DP World Australia, which operates container terminals in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Fremantle, are expected to be finalised by 30 September.

“By meeting together this week to bargain in good faith, DP World Australia and the MUA have been able to achieve a significant breakthrough, reaching an in-principle agreement that both sides hope to finalise by the end of this month,” MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin said.

Related: Disruption from waterfront industrial action just gets worse and worse

“After two years of difficult negotiation, this is a significant breakthrough that will provide industrial certainty at Australia’s largest container terminals.

“We are currently working with the company to turn this in-principle agreement into a final document that will lock in fair and productive outcomes for workers and the company over the next four years,” he said.

DP World Australia also said negotiations had been productive. “The Maritime Union's decision to withdraw all industrial action at DP World Sydney has enabled productive negotiations at our Sydney terminal to resume,” said Andrew Adam, DP World Australia chief operating officer, terminals.

“We anticipate being able to finalise an agreement at DP World Sydney in the coming week. We’re encouraged with the progress we made this week in Sydney,” he said.