Container ships have reportedly been left stranded outside the Australian Port of Melbourne due to a union-backed blockade, the ABC reported.

Some 50 workers from the Maritime Union of Australia have gone on strike and shut down the Victoria International Container Terminal  (VICT) over the alleged treatment of one of its members, according to the story.

The dispute has been ongoing for 10 days and has forced perishable cargo to be diverted to Adelaide and then taken by road more than 700km (450 miles) to Melbourne.

Victorian Transport Association head Peter Anderson was quoted as saying: "There are goods coming directly into the shelves, there are goods being bought left right and center."

"Unfortunately the supply chain will be disrupted by this action," he said.

The conflict between the union and the VICT came to a head when an audit revealed that 22 workers did not have a Maritime Security Identification card, which lets workers into secure areas.

According to the union, the one worker who had taken the company to Fair Work had his employment terminated.

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