Striking members of the Australian Border Force say they are not to blame for a refugee boat evading the federal government's much vaunted Operation Sovereign Borders this week.
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But border officers' union has conceded that a range of "in-port" disruptions to the force's fleet are underway and that "in-port" delays are being inflicted on its activities.
The boat, understood to be carrying Vietnamese asylum seekers appeared about 150 kilometers of the north west coast of WA on Monday morning, with the government refusing to answer questions about the arrival.
But the union, the CPSU has rejected speculation that their members industrial action might have been to blame for the failure to detect the vessel until it came almost alongside an offshore oil rig.
The union says it has a deal with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, parent agency of Border Force, that the strike action currently underway will not stop officers acting if lives are in danger at sea.
The government is refusing to provide details of the arrival but Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has also denied that striking public servants had anything to do with the boat's progress.
CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood says the strike action is primarily occurring on dry land
"We emphatically reject any suggestion that the protected industrial action our members are taking has resulted in an asylum-seeker vessel being located off the Dampier coast," Ms Flood said.
"The protected industrial action underway includes a ban on a range of 'in port' activities such as loading and unloading stores, rubbish and equipment, pre-departure checks, routines and maintenance activities.
"These actions are causing some in-port delays."
The union leader said a ban on boarding suspected illegal fishing vessels was being enforced but that it did not extend to asylum seeker boats.
"There is also a ban on members undertaking boarding or enforcement activities at sea which is primarily impacting on vessels targeting illegal foreign fishing activities," Ms Flood said.
"Australian Border Force Marine Unit staff take their responsibilities very seriously and have given commitments to ensure that none of the actions taken would compromise the safety of lives at sea.
"It is important to note that this protected industrial action, including 'safety of lives at sea' and national security safeguards, has been fully negotiated and properly notified with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and approved by the Fair Work Commission."
Border Force officials have joined many of their counterparts across the public service in rejecting wage offers made under the Abbott government's tough bargaining policy.
Ill-feeling is running particularly high among former Customs officers who are facing big pay cuts, of up to $8000 in some cases, to transfer to the Australian Border Force.
