A-Infos (en) SAS Claim in Docks War

[Tom Burghardt <tburghardt@igc.apc.org>]

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                    SAS CLAIM IN DOCKS WAR
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     The Age
     Monday, 2 February 1998
     http://www.theage.com.au/daily/980202/news/news2.html
     By CLARE KERMOND, Employment reporter
 
     The controversy over attempts to set up a non-union
stevedoring operation on Melbourne's waterfront widened
yesterday, as unions claimed a serving member of the SAS was in
charge of the project's security.
 
     The ACTU said the involvement of the SAS officer was further
proof that the scheme backed by officials from the National
Farmers Federation at Webb Dock was being run by those behind the
failed attempt in Dubai late last year to train serving and
former army personnel as waterfront workers.
 
     Officials from the NFF and the Maritime Union of Australia
have been locked in battle on the Melbourne waterfront since last
week after NFF officials leased part of the Webb Dock from the
stevedoring company Patrick to operate its own business using
non-union labor.
 
     An ACTU assistant secretary, Mr Greg Combet, said the SAS
officer had been employed by FBIS, the security company run by a
former Victorian chief police commissioner, Mr Kel Glare, and
hired by Patrick.
 
     Union officials last night discovered a 1970s Ford Falcon,
loaded with riot shields, parked near Gem Pier in Williamstown.
Guards were last week seen boarding boats at the pier to
transport them to the Webb Dock site, avoiding protesters. The
MUA official who found the shields, Mr Michael O'Leary, said they
were discovered after a tip-off from a source who said they were
lent to FBIS by the Office of Corrections.
 
     Unions said yesterday the shields were evidence of State
Government involvement in the Webb Dock non-union labor push.
 
     Mr Combet said it looked "more and more like there is some
relationship with Dubai". He said if the riot shields came from
Victorian prisons, the Government had serious questions to answer
about its role in the scheme.
 
     A State Government spokesman said last night the claims were
being investigated.
 
     A Department of Defence spokesman said he did not know if a
serving member of the SAS was working for FBIS and could not
check the army's records. He said the only serving army personnel
allowed to work elsewhere were those doing training before
leaving the army. FBIS International refused to comment last
night.
 
     Police are investigating an incident yesterday at Webb Dock
that left at least two guards injured. Police said rocks were
thrown at a bus carrying guards about 6.30am yesterday,
shattering windows.
 
     One female guard was taken to hospital with glass fragments
in her eye.
 
     The federal Workplace Relations Minister, Mr Peter Reith,
yesterday condemned the violence as union thuggery. Mr Reith and
the president of the NFF, Mr Donald McGauchie, called on the MUA
to apologise for the incident.
 
     The national secretary of the MUA, Mr John Coombs, said he
was aghast that violence had occurred after the union's efforts
to ensure the protest was peaceful. He said if a union member was
found to be guilty of the incident, they would face expulsion.
 
     About 200 protesters maintained their vigil at Webb Dock
last night.
 
     Copyright 1998 The Age Pty Ltd
 
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