A-Infos (en) Australian docks lockout news reports

[Platformist Anarchism <platform@geocities.com>]

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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.

   
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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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