A-Infos (en)MUA:War on the wharfies 21 May update

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

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News Summary - Thursday 21 May
War on the Wharfies Homepage:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm

CONTENTS
(21/5/98) National Farmers Federation dips into fighting fund
(21/5/98) Patrick at a loss with security
(21/5/98) MUA urges deferral of creditors meeting
(21/5/98) P&O injunction against MUA members in Adelaide & Newcastle
(21/5/98) Report on Patrick describes restructure as 'uncommercial'
(21/5/98) Dubai Passports implicate ministerial staff
(21/5/98) Scab loaded ships list
There are also pages in French, Italian and Spanish, and a link to
the Altavista Language Translation Service.

          -----------------------------------
News Summary - Thursday 21 May
Skirmishes continue in waterfront war
National Farmers Federation dips into fighting fund
The National Farmers Federation is understood to have passed a
resolution at its annual general meeting authorising the use of
fighting funds for legal actions against the MUA in the waterfront
battle. Dr Wendy Craik, the NFF's executive director, refused to
comment on the resolution.
(Financial Review 21/5/98)

Patrick at a loss with security
In a statement to the Australian Stock exchange Lang Corporation,
parent company of the Patrick group, revealed it had incurred more
than $13 million in abnormal expenses over the past six weeks. It
seems most of this cost was the security guards hired to keep its
workers locked out. What a way to waste money. Particularly as
they announced a pre-tax loss of $1.6 million for the six months
to March. Evidently, the Patrick group's stevedoring revenues for
the month of April fell more than 45 per cent.
(Financial Review 21/5/98)

MUA urges deferral of creditors meeting
The MUA told the Federal Court on Tuesday that it would move to
put off Monday's creditors' meeting and any decision on a deed of
arrangement on the companies' futures until after the result of its
Federal Court conspiracy action against Patrick chief executive
Mr Chris Corrigan and Mr Reith. But the court has been told the
Federal Government will not make redundancy payments available
if the meeting is delayed.

Meanwhile, a public letter and fax campaign is underway to pressure
the consortium of seven banks into supporting the union proposals
at a creditors meeting.
Refer to News Summary: Lobby the Banks Campaign
(ABC 21/5/98)

P&O injunction against MUA members in Adelaide & Newcastle
P&O Ports yesterday won an injunction in the NSW Supreme Court
preventing the MUA from interfering in operations in Newcastle
and Adelaide. The MUA has picketed the two P&O terminals to try
to stop former Patrick contracts going to P&O.

During the lockout, Patrick workers in Newcastle successfully
stopped ships being worked by scabs. In Adelaide, Patrick
senior management dismissed its local Manager and a supervisor
when they refused to carry out the dismissal orders against workers.
Patrick closing down operations in these two ports can be seen as
a vendetta against these workers. P&O are only too happy to put
the boot in when required.

(Sydney Morning Herald 20/5/98)

Report on Patrick describes restructure as 'uncommercial'
The co-administrators of the Patrick Labour Hire companies,
Mr Bill Butterell and Mr Peter Brook, have sent a confidential
report of their investigations to the Australian Securities
Commission. The administrators found two parts of the company
restructure transaction - a share buyback and the sale of
businesses and net assets - were reasonable. But they questioned
the third element - the change to labour hire agreements.
The administrators described as "onerous" the termination
clauses in labour hire agreements between the Patrick operating
arms and the labour companies, and said establishment of the
agreements last September may have been uncommercial.

(Sydney Morning Herald 19/5/98)

Dubai Passports implicate ministerial staff
A Sydney Morning Herald Freedom of Information enquiry has
produced letters which support Andrew Harris, Wells and Kilfoyle
in their statements which alledge senior government involvement
in the Dubai affair. The letters detail that local passport
offices should contact the head of the passports division in
Canberra, Mr Graeme Middleweek, and mention Mr Downer's chief
of staff, Mr Bill Tweddell. This adds veracity to the account
by Fynwest's director, Mr Mike Wells, that he was given the
referrals by Patrick's chief executive, Mr Chris Corrigan,
who said he had obtained the names from the "Prime Minister's
office".

(Sydney Morning Herald 19/5/98)

Scab loaded ships list
A list of scab loaded ships is currently being circulated
by email, and is available from: Harry Bridges Brigade
It contains the following introductory message:

SCAB-LOADED SHIPS FROM AUSTRALIA: HERE'S THE BEEF!
WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND
ASSISTANCE OF  PROF. ALAN FELS, CHAIR OF THE
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION
IN PROVIDING THIS LIST OF SCAB CARGO FOR DOCKWORKERS
AROUND THE WORLD TO SUPPORT THEIR FELLOW WHARFIES
"DOWN UNDER". SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT PERSIST IN
ITS DEVIOUS EFFORTS TO DESTROY THE MUA, DISREGARD THIS LIST
AND BAN ALL AUSTRALIAN CARGO!
Based upon my own research of media reports I hope to publish
a consolidated list of ships handled by non-union labour
employed by Patrick. Please watch this page for details in
the coming week or so...

----------------------------
War on the Wharfies is produced independently of any organisation.
It 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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