A-Infos (en) War on the wharfies 4 May update

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

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News Summary - Monday 4 May
War on the Wharfies Homepage:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm

CONTENTS
(4/5/98) High Court Decision supports union
(4/5/98) From the Picket Line 4 May 1998

Visit the LabourStart Site (MayDay page) for a free Windows
ScreenSaver (1.2MB zipped) featuring photos from the War
on the Wharfies Website, amoung others.
http://www.solinet.org/LEE/labourstart.html


News Summary - Monday 4 May
----------------------------
High Court Decision supports union

The High Court Judgement :
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/high_ct/1998/30.html

The full bench of the High Court has rejected the appeal by Patrick
Stevedores and has fully vindicated Justice North of the Federal Court
in
his Federal Court interim order to reinstate all the dismissed wharfies.

The Court decision was 6 in favour and 1 against upholding the order by
Justice North. It is nearly 4 weeks since the workers were dismissed on
the night of April 7, when security guards and attack dogs in a military

style operation stormed Patrick wharves around Australia to physically
evict workers while they were doing their jobs.

Chief Justice Sir Gerard Brennan told the court it is not the High
Court's
ruling, but a decision to resume trading, that may see the employees
return to work. This places the decision and responsibility for the
reinstatement of the workers firmly into the hands of the
administrators.
The administrators are still seeking startup funds to enable
commencement of trading, including pursuing money owed to the
companies by other companies in the Patrick Group. Mr Brook, one of
the administrators, said "We're not compelled to hire anybody. We're
now able to dismiss the employees if that is the appropriate decision
or employ others if that is the appropriate decision. Under the
corporations law, voluntary adminstrators have very wide powers in
dealing with a company and we're now entitled to use them." Peter
Reith has scheduled a meeting with the administrators tomorrow.

This afternoon, Chris Corrigan announced that Patrick Stevedores is
providing $3.6 million to the administrators of its labour hire
companies
to restart trading.

Hundreds of MUA members and supporters gathered outside the court in
Canberra. John Coombs said "I think it's fair enough for me - because
I'm sure the boot would have been on the other foot if we'd have lost -
to call for the resignation of Peter Reith from the Cabinet. He should
resign from that position and allow someone to be in there who
recognises that there are two sides to every one of these pieces of
legislation. Freedom of choice means you have freedom to join a
union and you cannot be sacked as a result of that freedom of choice
being applied."

John Coombs emphasised that the victory could not have been achieved
without the support of the rank and file of other unions. "I want to
thank
them and hope that they'll stay with us for as long as it takes to get
the
funds from the banks. And I call upon the banks to recognise a
decision - 6-1 in the High Court - the funds should be made available
for our people to be reinstated. And they should do it immediately."

(Source: ABC 4/5/98)

>From the Picket Line 4 May 1998

12.30pm. East Swanson Dock, Melbourne.

Two thousand people gathered at the community assembly at East
Swanson Dock to hear the news and listen to speakers and music. The
High Court decision is another major moral and legal victory for the
Maritime Union against the union busting campaign of Patrick and the
Federal Government.

(Source: Takver 4/5/98)

Sydney - Rally at Darling Harbour

Jennie George, ACTU president addressed jubilant wharfies and
supporters at Darling Harbour in Sydney after the decision. "We've still

got some way to go. It is not all over - we've had a great moral victory

again today. We've had the rule of law rule on the side of ordinary
working people against the might of corporate power and the might of
government. I think it is an absolute disgrace that a Minister of the
Crown could have acted in collusion with a company to get rid of an
entire workforce, in breach of his own Government's laws."

(Source: ABC 4/5/98)

Darwin - May Day march supports wharfies

The Northern Territory Trades and Labour Council's Didge McDonald
said it is illegal for Territory unions to endorse industrial action in
support of sacked wharfies. But workers have been contributing to the
fund to help their families. "We have people ringing up on a daily basis

asking where they can contribute and how they can contribute and
where our picket line is. So we have to actually tell them that no we
don't actually have a picket line in Darwin, so yeah there's been huge
public support."

(Source: ABC 4/5/98)

Brisbane May Day march

Sacked waterside workers took pride of place in the Labor Day parade
in Brisbane. About 10,000 union members and supporters gathered in
Albert Park to hear the High Court decision. The decision was broadcast
live with the reaction to the decision one of relief and jubilation.

(Source: ABC 4/5/98)

Townsville May Day march

At the Townsville port, the sacked wharfies were supported by several
other unions after the city's Labour Day march. More than 1,000 people
cheered the High Court decision and emotional scenes followed, with
union chants and people congratulating each other on the victory.
Shortly
afterwards, with a small contingent of police looking on, some people
started forcing the port's gates. About five men entered the port but
were
told to come back behind the picket line by union organisers.

(Source: ABC 4/5/98)

Fremantle

Scenes of jubilation followed the High Court Decision. After speeches,
MUA members marched up to the police lines at the Patrick gate and
Paddy Crumlin from the MUA made a plea for them to be allowed in. He
said: "Will you please open the gate on behalf of these workers, who
have been cruelly sacked and their families illegally removed, so we can

come back in with dignity?"

A police spokesman congratulated the unionists for approaching the gate
in a peaceful manner but said they cannot let them in until the police
are
given the legal authority to do so. The unionists say they will continue

the picket line until they can return to work.

(Source: ABC 4/5/98)

Burnie, Tasmania

Less than two hours after the High Court victory, Burnie workers and
MUA members marched to the offices of Mr Miles, their federal member
of parliament and a member of the Liberal Party. About 40 people,
waving placards, gathered outside the offices before storming into the
foyer. Union members are angry over what Mr Miles' lack of
commitment to Burnie waterside workers throughout the dispute. Police
have ordered media and supporters out of the office while the talks
continue.

(Source: ABC 4/5/98)

----------------------------
War on the Wharfies is an independent web page which
contains:
* News reports on the Maritime Union of Australia fight against
  the rightwing attack by the National Farmers Federation,
  waterfront bosses, and federal and state governments.
* News on other union actions and progressive campaigns, or the
  general attack on workers rights or conditions

Takver@onaustralia.com.au
         War on the Wharfies - essential links
 http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm
             http://www.yll.org.au/mua
 http://www.InsideTheWeb.com/messageboard/mbs.cgi/mb63212
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