A-Infos (en)MUA:War on the wharfies 26 May update

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

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News Summary - Tuesday 26 May
War on the Wharfies Homepage:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm

CONTENTS
(26/5/98) Government temper tantrum at waterfront deal
(26/5/98) Government challenged in Parliament
(26/5/98) Columbus Canada still at anchor off Los Angeles
(26/5/98) San Fransisco - Oakland Bay Area Alert! on Direct Kea
(26/5/98) Campaign against Rio Tinto over human rights,
 anti-unionism and environmental rape

Featured website: ICEM Rio Tinto Campaign Website
http://www.icem.org/campaigns/riotinto/index.html

          -----------------------------------
News Summary - Tuesday 26 May
Temper Tantrum by Reith at union deal - More on scab ships

Government temper tantrum at waterfront deal
In a fit of childish spite, the Howard Government has withdrawn
access by the Patrick labour company Administrators to the $250
million waterfront redundancy fund. The union was successful on
Monday in Creditors of the Patrick labour hire companies voting
overwhelmingly for a 15-day adjournment of the crucial second
creditors' meeting until June 9.

Peter Reith, in response, stated "Prior to the vote, the
administrators advised the creditors that adjournment of the
meeting would result in the Commonwealth's conditions for the
provision of redundancy funds not being met. As a consequence
of the failure to meet these conditions, the Commonwealth's
redundancy offer put to the Patrick administrators has lapsed."

The adjournment was a blow to Peter Reith and Chris Corrigan,
who had been pushing for the meeting to adopt a deed of
arrangement, opening the way for the retrenchment of hundreds
of MUA members. All the major creditors, the banks and the
employees, voted for the adjournment. Significantly, John Coombs
and Chris Corrigan spent significant amounts of time locked up
together over the weekend, with neither commenting on the
substance of their talks. Meanwhile Patrick workers continue
to work without yet receiving any pay for their efforts.

ABC 26/5/98, Financial Review 26/5/98

Government challenged in Parliament
The Labor Party has drafted a bill to ensure all employees who
have been unlawfully sacked by an insolvent employer can be
reinstated to jobs in related companies that are solvent, and
receive all entitlements. Bob McMullan has challenged the
Government to support the Bill.

In the Senate, the Labor Party and the Democrats are pushing
the Government to table the secret reports, done at taxpayers
expense for about $1.1 million. Labor Opposition leader in the
Senate, John Faulkner said "the Opposition will be proceeding
with its proposal to establish a select committee into why that
material is not being provided and a range of other matters in
relation to the waterfront dispute,"

ABC 26/5/98

Columbus Canada still at anchor off Los Angeles

25 May 1998,
"The Columbus Canada still sits at anchor and awaits an outcome
in court sometime this week. It has now sat idle for two and half
weeks and no end in sight. The court rulings should take place
near the end of the week, at that time we will see the course of
action to take. You can be assured that there will be more
community protests to follow."
Email to Takver 26/5/98

The ship's German operator, Columbus Line, has filed a complaint
with the National Labor Relations Board and is suing the union
for nearly $5 million in damages. In Australia Peter Reith
(minister for Industrial Confrontation) is drumming up the
business effect of some of the scab loaded cargo being stranded,
citing that future exports of gluten to the US may be affected.
Of course he takes no responsibility for inciting Patrick to
attempt to dismiss its workforce.

ABC 26/5/98, LA Times 24/5/98

San Fransisco - Oakland Bay Area Alert!
The scab-loaded ship Direct Kea will be arriving in the Port of
Oakland on Thursday, May 28. Community picket or rally lines
could start as early as 6am Thursday morning. Transportation
from the West Oakland BART station to the docks will be provided.
Call 510-845-0540 for updates.
Harry Bridges Action Brigade 26/5/98

More Liberal Party corruption allegations
Allegations are continuing against the office of the Resources
Minister, Senator Parer. It is being alledged that his office
supplied the Liberal Party with stationery worth thousands of
dollars.

Also, backbencher Mr Tony Smith resigned from the Liberal Party,
and will continue to sit in parliament as an independant. He
cited disillusion with the party system, the proposed Goods and
Service Tax package, and the governments Wik legislation. This
is the third defection in three months for the Howard Government.

Sydney Morning Herald 26/5/98

Campaign against Rio Tinto over human rights, anti-unionism and
environmental rape
The International Federation of Chemical, Energy and Mining
Unions is co-ordinating a campaign against Rio Tinto, one of the
world's largest mining companies. The Federation is claiming that
the mining company is denying basic human rights for its workers.
In a report being given to shareholders at Rio Tinto's annual
general meeting on Wednesday, claims are made of abuse of human
rights, workers rights and abuse of the environment.

For more information please see:
ICEM Rio Tinto Campaign Website
http://www.icem.org/campaigns/riotinto/index.html

ABC 26/5/98

War on the wharfies now contains articles in
Italiano | Espagnol | Deutsch | Danish | Francais
plus Altavista Language Translation link
http://babelfish.altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/translate?

----------------------------
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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