A-Infos (en)MUA:War on the wharfies 29 May update

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

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News Summary - Friday 29 May
War on the Wharfies Homepage:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm

CONTENTS
(29/5/98) Injunctions on MUA for secondary boycotts
(29/5/98) Conspiracy case upsets Government election timetable
(28/5/98) Columbus Canada sails with scab loaded cargo

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

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News Summary - Friday 29 May

Injunctions on MUA for secondary boycotts
In the first decision of its kind under the Trade Practices Act,
Justice Bryan Beaumont of the Federal Court granted the Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission injunctions under the Trade
Practices Act designed to stop boycotts. They were made under
section 45DB of the Act, which were inserted by the Howard
Government in an effort to stop interference with international
trade.

The MUA in response told the court the orders would not stop
any boycotts because they were "unilateral and voluntary" and
had nothing to do with the union. Mr Kevin Bell,appearing for
the MUA, said the injunctions would be observed by his clients
but "it doesn't lie within the hands of the MUA to bring about
the ceasing of this action".

The terms of the injunctions specify that the MUA must tell the
ITF that it does not want a boycott of the Columbus Canada or
the Direct Kea, which is due to reach the west coast of America
later this week. The MUA will lodge an action for a judicial
review of the ACCC decision to sue the union, alleging it had
been done for an "an improper purpose".

Sydney Morning Herald 28/5/98

Conspiracy case upsets Government election timetable

Justice Tony North of the Federal Court has rejected arguments
from Patrick and theGovernment to delay the start of the case
until October or December. Tony North said that the case should
start soon after June 25. This may cause the case to run
concurrently with a Federal Election, expected between August
and early December. This may prove extremely damaging for the
Howard Government, with revelations of its conspiracy to sack
a workforce being revealed midway through an election campaign.

Meanwhile, in the Senate the Government is coming under increasing
attack by the Democrats and the Labor Opposition to release the
secret tax payer funded reports. ALP backbencher, Mr Neil O'Keefe,
has alledged that major financial institutions including the AMP,
National Mutual, Westpac and BT, had been involved in a move to
support the share price of Lang Corp, the Patrick parent company.

A further embarrassment for John Howard and the Federal Government
has been the Liberal and National Party endorsement of preferences
to the racist One Nation Party ahead of the Labor Party in the
Queensland State Election. Even a former Liberal Party Prime
Minister, Malcolm Fraser, has urged voters to place One Nation
candidates last, and has attacked the "base political expediency"
of the Liberal and National Parties in Queensland.

Sydney Morning Herald 29/5/98

Columbus Canada sails with scab loaded cargo

Community action in Los Angeles has successfully stopped non-union
loaded cargo on the Columbus Canada from being unloaded, and forced
its repatriation to either Australia or New Zealand. This community
action was not directed by the MUA but was a voluntary act of
conscience by residents and workers to defend unionism and working
conditions. Their solidarity and initiative are to be applauded and
imitated. (Takver)

Columbus shipping reached a deal with the International Longshore
and Wharehouse Union to unload the Columbus Canada. Only the
unstruck cargo was to be offloaded and the 57 containers loaded
by the scab labor was left aboard ship presumably for return to
Australia. The ship was again greeted by protesters as it pulled
into berth on Monday evening but the protest disbursed after news
of the deal was revealed. The scab cargo should and will be sent
to Australia to be reloaded by Unionised labor.

Email to Takver 28/5/98

A US spokesman for the shipping company, Columbus Line, said a deal
had been struck with American unions to unload New Zealand cargo
not affected by the ban so that the remainder could be returned
for re-stevedoring in the southern hemisphere.

It is understood the company hopes to offload in New Zealand and
reload on another ship, the Columbus Victoria, which will then
travel to the US in a 20,000-kilometre round trip.

Sydney Morning Herald 28/5/98
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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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