A stevedoring company has called for a stop to union protests blockading freight to and from the Spirit of Tasmania in Melbourne.
Dock workers and supporters have been blockading access to goods going on and off the vessel at Melbourne's Station Pier since Friday, in protest against staff sackings.
On Sunday, protesters again blocked the gates at the pier, delaying the offloading of freight and fresh food from Tasmania, Stevedore company Qube Ports & Bulk said.
The company is calling on the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) to stop the protests, which it says are illegal and damaging to Tasmanian producers.
"We have today again asked the local MUA official Kevin Bracken to call off these damaging protests," it said in a statement.
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"Instead, Mr Bracken demanded the reinstatement of employees who were not involved in this issue."
The MUA wants Qube, which employed the workers, to negotiate their return to work, believing they were terminated unfairly.
The union believes the workers were sacked because they had raised safety concerns, but the company said they had refused to carry out duties for which they had been trained, and had previously performed.
It says six men may have an unfair dismissal case.
Qube says one of its employees was dismissed last week, after being suspended for refusing to follow the direction of management and perform duties for which he had been trained.
Another employee was given a warning and two more remain on paid leave while their cases are considered, the company says.
Comment was being sought from the MUA.
