Australian Dock Workers Seek 28-Hour Week as DP World Tests AI Cranes and Driverless Vehicles

Australian dock workers are demanding a 28-hour work week with no loss of pay as DP World advances artificial intelligence and automation at its terminals. BBC News reported that the Maritime Union of Australia issued the call on 3 July 2026. Workers currently average 32 to 35 hours per week depending on location.

The union stated that DP World has placed jobs "in the crosshairs" and must deliver a "social dividend" if it adopts the new technology. DP World operates ports in Sydney, Melbourne and other Australian locations that together handle around 40 percent of the country's container shipments. The company moves millions of containers annually through these facilities.

It has proposed AI-assisted remote-control cranes and driverless vehicles as part of the programme. A study commissioned by the union found the automation effort threatens up to one thousand jobs, or more than 60 percent of the dock and maintenance workforce. DP World is testing AI tools to manage employee schedules and operations, according to the same research.

DP World is based in Dubai and controlled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It runs operations in 84 countries, employs more than 126,000 people worldwide and handles roughly one tenth of global container traffic. Glen Hilton, the company's Asia Pacific chief executive, said last year that AI use across regional ports is "no longer optional" but essential for managing complex supply chains.