A-Infos (en) War on Wharfies 11 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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11 February - The following daily summaries of news for 10th and 11th Feb
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

News Summary - Tuesday 10 Feb
with Photos page (202KB) 

•<Picture: Melbourne Rally>Over 2,000 union delegates met at Dallas Brooks
Hall in Melbourne today. A motion was passed in support of the Maritime
Union and to organise a mass rally of workers to fight the Federal
Government's attempt at union busting. The delegates then marched to
parliament house where hundreds more people had gathered in support of the
wharfies. 

Leigh Hubbard, Victorian Trades Hall secretary, said "For the trade union
movement this fight is as crucial a fight as we've ever had in our lives
and we plan to see it through all the way,". 

Jennie George, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
told the crowd that "there is no industrial dispute but a political
conspiracy to smash one of Australia's strongest unions. It's a conspiracy
that involves the Federal Government the State Kennett Government,
operatives in the Liberal Party and of course the unknown, unnamed backers
of the Dubai fiasco and last but not least that famous union-busting
operation, the NFF." On Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith, Ms George
said he should be called "the Minister for Confrontation....who lies about
the conditions of the wharfies" Further, that "he set out to either
deregister the MUA, bankrupt the union, or sack the entire workforce on the


wharves." She summed up by saying "the rule of law is being perverted". 

Two riot shields were produced and shown to the crowd. These shields were
issued to the Metropolitan Remand Center, who were the only people licensed
to import this equipment and approved to use it. These shields, along with
uniforms and CS gas canisters were being used by the security guards at
Webb Dock. This implicates the State Government in perverting the "rule of
law". Similarly, a lease dispute between Patrick and the State Government
was miraculously settled on the same day as the wharfies were locked out of
Webb dock. 

A further fact emerged about the leasing arrangements to the NFF. The
present lease contains a clause excluding all international cargoes. With
this clause, it makes a joke about the NFF introducing competition on the
docks. 

After these speeches the crowd marched to the NFF offices in Collins
street, where a farmer questioned the motivations of the organisation he
belonged to. (source: ABC, Takver) 
  •In Brisbane, over 400 Maritime workers stopped work for four hours.
Branch Secretary, Col Davies said "The members, especially the members from
Patrick, are absolutely incensed at [Patrick chairman Chris] Corrigan's
continued confrontationalist approach and the lies. And it now comes to the
fore that at one stage he was contemplating sacking the entire workforce."
(Source: ABC) 
  •Gareth Evans, deputy Federal Labor leader attacked Minister Reith: "Mr
Reith's protestations of ignorance about the Dubai affair, ignorance about
all the subterranean manoeuvrings last year to set up the conditions for a
major brawl on the waterfront, his denials of involvement in all of that
are ringing increasingly hollow.". 

Meanwhile, Peter Reith admitted that it may be entirely justifiable to sack
the entire waterfront workforce, and that this had been considered under
certain circumstances involving the Maritime Union of Australia. Mr Reith
said "The point is that under federal law, when there's massive industrial
action, there are a whole lot of scenarios and options available under the
Workplace Relations Act. We've sent our legal people down to P&O, to
Patricks and whoever else has asked, and we have explained how the new law
operates." Mr Reith said the use of troops on the waterfront was not
included in the options. (Source: ABC) 
  •Sydney Rallies - Friday 6 Feb 98 The rally was 300-400 and attracted
alot of interest from people on the way home. Speakers included people from
the Wilderness Society, Socilaist Worker and rank and file trade unionists.
(Unfortunately because the MUA decided for some reason of which I'm not
aware to stay away from the rally they didn't send a speaker.) The spirit
of the rally was hostility to the attacks on our unions, anger at the
Workplace Relations Act and a belief if necessary we should break the law
to defend our organisations. (Source: email to Takver) 

An MUA endorsed rally was held on Monday 9 February with over 1000 members
of the MUA and supporters. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

News Summary - Monday 9 Feb

•Chris Corrigan, Chairman of Patrick Stevedoring, today started appearing
before the Industrial Relations Commission. He told the commission that he
was approached by the National Farmers Federation industrial relations
manager, James Ferguson last December to lease Webb Dock to set up a
competing business. The Melbourne manager of Patrick, My Whiteway, conceded
that he lied to workers about his previous knowledge regarding the National
Farmers Federation sub-lease. (Source: ABC) 
  •The IRC approved the application by Patrick Stevedoring to seek civil
action to sue the MUA for damages from this dispute. (Source: ABC) 
  •More than 1,000 MUA members and supporters marched down George Street
and rallied outside Patrick offices in Sydney. As part of a four hour
stopwork, the ports of Sydney, Port Kembla, Newcastle, Adelaide and
Fremantle were closed this morning. Stopwork meetings and rallies are also
expected to take place in Melbourne and Brisbane tomorrow. (Source: ABC) 
  •The IRC was told today by Chris Corrigan about a plan being discussed by
Federal Government Advisors to dismiss en-masse all Patrick Stevedoring
employees. These discussions took place in Sydney early last year. The idea
was canvassed due to fears of the union reaction to the possible sale of
the Government owned shipping company, ANL. (Source: ABC) 


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