ferris
There are some similarities between the 1998 Waterfront Dispute and the current situation at Qantas.
In 1998, Chris Corrigan wanted a profitable stevedoring company that employed non-union labour. The MUA wanted to maintain both its presence on the waterfront and the continuance of costly and inefficient work practices.
What transpired was a complex saga of intrigue, industrial action and litigation. A substitute workforce was trained in Dubai but never deployed. There was a possibility of a national strike but that never materialised because it would have exposed the entire union movement to damages.
In the end, both sides claimed victory. Corrigan has ended up with a profitable company. The MUA is still on the waterfront, albeit with having to accept redundancies and a degree of casualisation.
The lesson from the Waterfront Dispute is that industrial relations is a complex and difficult business. Finding solutions usually involves more than just applying the law.
And as for splitting hairs, it's more like dividing tresses!