In brief
Australian dock workers are insisting on a 28‑hour work week without loss of pay as DP World, the major port operator, rolls out artificial intelligence and automation. The Maritime Union of Australia cautions that the technology should benefit workers rather than endanger jobs, arguing for the social dividend. DP World is testing AI tools for scheduling, AI‑assisted cranes, and driverless vehicles, potentially affecting up to 60% of the port workforce. Workers currently clock around 32 to 35 hours each week across Sydney, Melbourne and other Australian ports. With operations in 84 countries, DP World moves a significant share of global shipping containers each year.
Australian dock workers are demanding a 28‑hour work week with no reduction in pay as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation spreads across the country’s ports.
The push is led by DP World, Australia's largest port logistics operator, which the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) says has put dock workers’ jobs at risk. Union officials argue that if DP World wants to deploy AI and automation, it must pay the social dividend and safeguard livelihoods.
DP World, headquartered in Dubai, is experimenting with AI tools to manage staff and work schedules, according to a study commissioned by the MUA. The study warns that the programme could threaten up to a thousand jobs, more than 60% of the dock and maintenance workforce.
In addition to scheduling, DP World is exploring AI‑assisted remote‑control cranes and driverless vehicles, potentially reshaping maritime operations. The union emphasises that technology should improve workers’ lives, not destroy them.
Currently, dock workers at DP World terminals in Sydney, Melbourne and elsewhere work between 32 and 35 hours per week, depending on location. The company, ultimately controlled by Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is one of the world’s largest port operators and handles roughly a tenth of global container traffic.
