Wharfies rally over workplace safety Hundreds of wharfies and union workers have rallied across the country calling on industry to support waterfront safety reforms. The protests are part of a national campaign by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUW) to push the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) to cease its opposition to a national stevedoring code of practice. Workers rallied in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin and Devonport on Tuesday, but not in Perth, where other union meetings were being held. About 40 union members turned up blowing horns and waving placards at ACCI offices in Brisbane and succeeded in gaining a 20-minute police-brokered meeting with ACCI members. Outside the NSW Business Chamber 200 protesters rallied against opposition to the code, aimed at protecting the safety of workers. MUA Sydney branch secretary Paul McAleer said the ACCI argued the code was too expensive but that was a step backwards. "For them to say that the cost of implementing the code is an obstacle effectively says wharfies' lives and safety are not a priority for them," Mr McAleer said. They have kicked dirt in our faces. In Melbourne more than 100 MUA and other union workers waved banners and chanted "people first, profits last" and "saving workers is our task." MUA assistant national secretary Warren Smith said waterfront workers were 14 times more likely to die on the job than the average worker. "This actually is a matter of life and death," he told the Melbourne rally. Wharfies also protested at Fremantle by refusing to work on a vessel they say doesn't comply with minimum safety standards, and accused their employer Patrick of responding with "standover tactics." MUA WA branch deputy secretary Adrian Evans says the work area in the vessel's walkway puts workers at risk of back injuries, with insufficient room to lift 15kg lashing bars above their heads. Comment has been sought from Patrick. ACCI spokesman David Turnbull said industry would work with unions to make sure the code reflected good practice and conformed to legislative requirements. "We all want to see credible, workable guidance on how to operate safely," he said in a statement. He said SafeWork Australia would make the final decision on the code.