Sydney Branch MUA

The Sydney Branch has a long history with the earliest organised wharfies banding together here in Australia’s first city as far back as 1872 with the Sydney Wharf Labourers Union on the now iconic Hungry Mile.

Links & Resources

Published: 23 Mar 2020

During this current COVID-19 health crisis we have brought together the following information for members.
What is Coronavirus
Workplace Health and Safety Obligations
The Maritime Union of Australia has made the following demands on governments and employers during this global health crisis.

Published: 28 Aug 2025

MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA

MEDIA RELEASE
MUA WINS LANDMARK VICTORY AT HUTCHISON PORTS: JOBS, SECURITY AND NO AUTOMATION

27 AUGUST 2025

The Maritime Union of Australia has secured a historic agreement at Hutchison Ports that locks in jobs, delivers big gains in wages and conditions, and slams the door on automation for the life of the deal.

Published: 24 Aug 2025

Integrated Rating qualifications

Members are reminded that there are two levels of IR qualification, also illustrated in the flowchart from AMSA below:

II/4 III/4 Integrated Rating (corresponding to STCW Navigational Watch Rating and Engine Room Watch Rating, plus TAGS books and seatime)

After a further seven months of seatime, IRs are eligible to upgrade to:

Published: 18 Aug 2025

MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA

MEDIA RELEASE

TUESDAY 19 AUGUST

Automation and AI will sink waterfront productivity

Published: 4 Aug 2025

MUA condemns unfolding catastrophe in Gaza and joins calls for global solidarity

The Maritime Union of Australia expresses its deepest alarm at the catastrophic situation in Gaza and across the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Published: 1 Aug 2025

MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA

MEDIA RELEASE

1 AUGUST 2025

Published: 28 Jul 2025

MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA

MEDIA RELEASE

29 JULY 2025

Indigenous wharfies and seafarers of the world call for peace at MUA Conference

A world first International First Nations maritime workers conference was held in Sydney last week. Participating in the unapologetically political gathering were First Nations representatives from across Australia, the Pacific and the Americas.

Published: 22 Jul 2025

Vale Jimmy Donovan

The MUA is mourning the loss of Jimmy Donovan, a former WWF and MUA Sydney Branch official, lifelong member of the Communist Party, and a resolute member of the working class until his last day.

As a child, Jimmy was brought to the Waterside Workers Federation’s union rooms by his mum, Jessie, who enrolled her nine year old son in art classes delivered there by artist Nan Horton in the union library built by Tom Nelson. It was as a child that Jimmy saw the Sydney wharfies’ mural first take shape in its and his formative years of development.

Published: 16 Jul 2025

Position Vacant: Receptionist / Admin Assistant, Sydney based

• Work Type: Full-time, 35hrs/week, ongoing

• Location: Sydney (Haymarket)

• Applications close: 1 August 2025

Key Benefits of Employment at the Maritime Union of Australia:

• 14% employer superannuation

Published: 25 Jun 2025

Australian maritime union leaders acknowledge seafarers strategic, social and economic importance on Day of the Seafarer.

The three Australian maritime unions, representing deck crew (MUA), engineers (AIMPE) and officers (AMOU) join together with global labour and maritime organisations in celebrating the Day of the Seafarer 2025, a day to recognise the immense contribution of the world’s seafarers – the essential workers who keep global trade, supply chains, and our island nation afloat.