A-Infos (en) War on Wharfies 5 Feb update

["Takver" <Takver@onaustralia.com.au>]

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     A - I N F O S  N E W S  S E R V I C E
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The following daily summaries of news on the rightwing attack on the
Maritime Union of Australia are available with background info links, and
links to Australian Media at:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm

Latest News Summary - 5 February

•The Maritime Union has subpoenaed Chris Corrigan, chairman of Patrick
Stevedoring, to give evidence before Industrial Relations Commission
meeting in Melbourne. He will be asked some penetrating questions about
Patrick's involvement with training army troops in Dubai as waterfront
strikebreakers, and the behaviour of his company. 
  •Patrick's alledge the week long dispute has cost $350,000 so far, with
seven ships diverted, and the loading of 800 cars held up. 
  •At a meeting in Mildura, union members promised to exempt perishable
produce. Already four containers of food have been allowed through the
protesting wharfies. It seems small farmers and food producers have more to
thank the wharfies for. A grower spokesperson said: "If by some chance the
dispute did escalate, they gave us an undertaking that perishables would be
given free passage through the wharves" (Source ABC) 
  •ACTU president, Jennie George, joined the protest at Webb Dock today.
She made statements that the dispute "has the potential to cause a national
tragedy" and "could result in waterfront workers living under a
dictatorship". "If they get away with this you may as well say you're
living in a dictatorship not a democracy." (Source ABC) 
  •The former SAS soldier accused by unions of running security at Webb
Dock site, yesterday quit the army, after breaching regulations when he
gave a security firm company name on his leave application which did not
exist. 
  •Prime Minister Howard backs Corrigan and dismissed the Dubai debacle
with the the words "Everything else . . . is a sideshow and irrelevant."
This is a cheap attempt to deflect attention from the role of the
Government in causing this dispute.(Source The Age) 
  •Public Rallies in support of the MUA are scheduled to be held in Sydney
on Friday and Monday, and in Melbourne on Tuesday. See notices elsewhere on
this page. 

Source for News: ABC News, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age 
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Latest News - 4 February

•Patrick Stevedoring is applying to Industrial Relations Commission to
intervene and settle the dispute. 
  •The Maritime Union is considering its own legal action alleging the
existing Enterprise Bargaining agreement has been broken by Patrick for
leasing part of its operations to the National Farmers Federation as a
market competitor. 
  •Minister Reith raised the possibility of using the Australian National
Line (ANL) ships at Webb Dock. The proposal seen as "blatant provocation"
by the union. 
  •Maritime Union proposal of a Maritime Industry Consultative Council
rejected out of hand by the employers. 
  •As a concession, Striking workers allowed containers of stranded produce
to be picked up and delivered to Coles Myer. 
  •State Liberal Government refuses to prosecute over the use of Government
issue riot shields. 
  •The National Secretary of the Maritime union, John Coombes, said of Mr
Corrigan's admission of subterfuge in the Dubai incident: "He's blown his
chance to be recognised as a credible person in the stevedoring industry
and I don't have to go through it all again," he said. "But anyone who
would participate in using defence force personnel to take the jobs of
other Australians has got no future in this industry nor perhaps in any
other that he did the same in." 

Source for News: ABC News, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian.

Takver@onaustralia.com.au
http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/
 
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