A-Infos (en) War on Wharfies 9 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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9 February - The following daily summaries of news for the weekend on the
rightwing attack on the Maritime Union of Australia are available with
background info,
and links to Australian Media at:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm
(This webpage is updated daily)

In Solidarity
Takver@onaustralia.com.au

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Web Page Feature Article -
TRADE PRACTICES ACT, WORKPLACE RELATIONS ACT and CRIMES ACT 
by Anarchist Media Institute, Melbourne, Australia 
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3879
Excerpt from Anarchist Age Weekly Review Number 285, 3rd - 9th February,
1998
 (already published on this list)
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News Summary - Sunday 8 Feb

•Wharfies round Australia will be on strike for 4 hours on Monday (Tuesday
in Melbourne) in protest against the attacks on their union and their
conditions. (Source: ABC) 
  •Workplace Relations Minister, Peter Reith, today verbally attacked
wharfies saying "Of course they say it's political but these guys are the
greatest excuse makers for rip-offs and rorts that you've ever seen. You've
got crane drivers that'll be walking off tomorrow who get paid for 50 hours
a week and you're lucky if you get them on the crane for 14 hours a week at
$90,000 a year." (Source: ABC) 

One wonders where Peter Reith gets his figures from. The average award rate
in the industry is approx $30,000 p.a. for a 35 hour week, and in the big
container terminals workers can earn around $75,000(with penalties and
allowances) for working from 50 to 80 hours per week. Working on the
wharves today involves skill and is still dangerous work. As for rorts,
surely enough has been said of how our politicians continue to rort the
system through travelling allowances, very generous superannuation, and the
ability to set their own pay rises! 
  •Most of the goods that have been sitting on Webb Dock have been
transferred to other terminals, through the goodwill of the Maritime Union
and brokered by the ACTU, in an effort not to hurt third party importers
and exporters. (Source: ABC) 
  •The federal Minister for Workplace Relations, Mr Peter Reith, confirmed
that he held talks about the waterfront with businessman Mr Peter Scanlon
(former right-hand man to John Elliott at Elders, and current director of
Lang Corporation, parent company of Patrick stevedores) before Christmas
last year. 

A reporter from The Age approached Mr Scanlon about whether he had any
involvement in the Webb Dock or Dubai disputes. Mr Scanlon, through a
spokesman, denied having talks with the Government about waterfront reform,
or any role in funding the NFF operation, donating to the NFF fighting
fund, and assisting any of the parties involved in the dispute. 

Mr Reith said he regularly held talks with Patrick's chairman Mr Chris
Corrigan about the waterfront but maintained he was unaware of his
involvement in the Dubai venture until Corrigan confessed this week.
(Source: The Age) 
  
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News Summary - Saturday 7 Feb

•The Maritime Union has taken Patrick to the Federal Court yesterday
alleging that the company has broken the enterprise agreement covering
workers at Webb Dock. Meanwhile, Patrick is seeking leave to appear before
the Supreme Court in a legal effort to force employees back to work.
(Source: The Age) 
  •Talks occurred today in Sydney between MUA National Secretary, John
Coombes and chairman of Patrick Stevedores Chris Corrigan. Neither
commented in depth. (Source: ABC) 
  •Toyota approached the ACTU to move 800 new vehicles for export which
have been stranded on Webb Dock since the start of the dispute. MUA
national organiser Mick O'Leary said: 
"Toyota have approached us through the ACTU. We felt that it was not our
intention to, in any way, damage Toyota. We've worked out an arrangement
that is acceptable to all the parties and those cars will be coming out of
there this afternoon." 
The cars were moved by unpaid union members not employed by Patrick
Stevedoring. (Source: ABC) 

Source: ABC online News, The Age 


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