A union-led strike at the Port of Melbourne has been halted after two cases of COVID-19 forced over 100 workers into isolation, heavily impacting operations. Two employees at container terminal operator Patrick Terminals have tested positive for COVID-19, forcing 109 workers into a 14-day self-isolation period just as Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) began its series of strikes. MUA planned to hold 12-hour strikes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the entire month of October after negotiations with Patrick Terminals over wages broke down. On Wednesday morning, Patrick Terminals CEO Michael Jovicic urged MUA to withdraw their industrial action to allow operations to recover during this “critical situation.” “Currently, 32 percent of our Melbourne workforce are unavailable to attend work and will need to isolate for a 14-day period,” Jovicic said. “This is not a time to be holding our Melbourne terminal to ransom when so many importers and exporters …