The Union responsible for the strikes at Fremantle Port has blamed employer Qube Holdings for failing to enter negotiations and end the strike.

It comes as Ports Minister Rita Saffioti failed to attend a commission hearing on the impact of the strike, despite the state government urging the Fair Work Commission to intervene and find a resolution.

The industrial action, taken by the Maritime Union of Australia, has been going for more than 50 days at stevedore, and has seen ships carrying cargo diverted to ports on the eastern states.

It’s feared the cargo delays will significantly impact WA farmers, with important machinery now having to be transported over land from ports on the eastern seaboard.

WA Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia Will Tracey said it’s Qube who are at fault.

“It’s not working because Qube walked away from it,” he told Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings.

“Even if this state government turned up, Qube has still walked away form the attempts by the federal regulator to try and mediate and outcome.

“As we said … we’ve made ourselves available … but Qube refuse to sit down as requested to by the government, who did intervene … and Qube walked away from that.”

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