The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) approved unlimitedstoppages of 24 hours, 48 hours and seven days, the Fair Work Commission said.

The MUA represents deckhands at Teekay Shipping(Australia) which is contracted by BHPBillitonto run tugboat operations at the port.

Deckhands on the tugs at theworld’s largest iron ore export facility have been campaigning for betterconditions over the past two months.

Permission to strike onlylasts for 30 days, so if strikes are to occur, they will likely happen beforethe first half of June.

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