A-Infos (en) MUA: War on the Wharfies 15 April update

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

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News Summary - Wednesday 15 April

Injunctions against MUA picketing

The Supreme Court of Western Australia in Perth has granted an interim 
injunction against the Maritime Union (MUA), 5 officials and seven members 
including state secretary Terry Buck. The ruling prohibits the Maritime 
union and the other defendants from interfering with trucks wanting to 
cross the picket line at Patrick's Fremantle terminal. The writ also 
seeks damages against the 12 men for loss of earnings. The hearing will 
continue tomorrow. Terry Buck expressed his outrage "The actions in suing 
individual sacked workers is un-Australian. It's below the belt and it's 
one of the most disgusting legal attacks I'm aware of." He is advising 
members not to obstruct trucks in the mean time. 

Meanwhile, a similar application by Patrick to prohibit picketing in Sydney

and Newcastle has been granted by the Supreme Court of N.S.W. The MUA's 
national secretary, Mr John Coombs, has warned the granting of the 
injunctions would lead to an intensification in the dispute. "If they get 
an injunction, we will escalate the dispute and escalate it very quickly. 
Stage three is a huge escalation of the dispute across the country and if 
it is forced, it will be forced by the courts." 

In the Federal Court, sitting in Melbourne, the interim injunction against 
the dismissal of the 2100 Patrick workers has been extended a further day. 
In arguing for another injunction to reinstate the employees, counsel for 
the Maritime Union told the court the company surreptiously, dishonestly 
and with the utmost of secrecy plotted the sackings six months ago, amid 
a $300 million company restructure. 

After the court adjournment this afternoon, Jennie George, ACTU president 
said that there is evidence of great collusion between the Government and 
Patrick Stevedores. "My appeal to Mr Howard would be - and to Mr Reith - 
you have been elected to lead this nation, not to divide us. What you've 
been doing is creating division. Mr Reith should be trying to resolve this 
difficult dispute instead of provoking it further." 

In further revelations, it appears Patrick has not paid health fund 
contributions deducted from employees pay for up to the last 6 months. 
This can only be seen as negligence at the best, and at worst it must be 
considered as Patrick defrauding their employees. 

(Source: ABC, The Age 15/4/98) 

>From the Picket Line 15 April 1998

•Fremantle. The interim injunction has restrained Maritime Union members 
from stopping trucks entering and leaving the Patrick Terminal. This
evening, 
the local Trades and Labour Council has called for other unionists and 
supporters to gather at the picket to prevent trucks crossing the picket, 
in an attempt to circumvent the injunction. 
(ABC 15/4/98) 

•Port Botany, Sydney. 
Last night was quiet on picket lines at Patrick Stevedores' two Sydney 
terminals. However protesters are again preparing to try to block more 
trucks from entering the terminals. The Direct Falcon was due to dock at 
Patrick Stevedore's Darling Harbour terminal remains in Sydney Harbour 
after tug boats refused to bring in the vessel. But the Sydney Port 
Authority says crews which were sent out to bring in the ship refused to 
do so because of safety. Now the tug crews have been stood down by their 
employer, Waratah. Wharfies at Darling Harbour have been accused of welding

the terminal gates shut. A container vessel, Direct Line, is due to arrive 
at the terminal today. 

The New South Wales Police Association says it wants to ensure police are 
not used by either side in the waterfront dispute. The Police Association 
has sent letters of support for sacked workers to the ACTU. The association

supports a State Government decision not to increase police presence on the

wharves. New South Wales Police Minister, Paul Whelan says he is reluctant 
to post more officers down at the wharves "The main priority, and it must 
be understood, of any police service is to protect the community from 
criminals. It's not to stop people exercising their democratic rights." 
(ABC 15/4/98) 

•East Swanson, Melbourne. 
The Botany Bay left East Swanson Dock last night, amid jeers from MUA 
members. The ship docked last Friday, and union members say they would have

had the ship on its way at least two days ago. 

•Newcastle, NSW. 
Scab labour has been forced to leave the Newcastle waterfront. This morning

a bus carrying non-union labour pushed through a picketline, running over 
a union member. Windows on the bus were smashed and paint bombs thrown at 
the bus as it attempted to cross the picket line this morning. The bus was 
forced to drive to the end of the dock without unloading the scabs. The bus

remained there for 3 hours while the MUA and Patrick management negotiated 
the removal of non-union labour. Union labour from P & O will load the two 
ships which have been waiting since yesterday. 

Yesterday up to 12 protesters prevented the Star Seabridge from docking 
for about three hours after they swam between it and the wharf. 

•Burnie, Tasmania. 
Members of the MUA in Burnie are ignoring a direction by the Burnie Port 
Authority to move their picket from Patrick Stevedore's facilities on the 
wharf, to the main entrance to the port. 

•Adelaide 
The MUA will begin picketing Patrick facilities at Port Adelaide to try to 
prevent any cranes or forklifts being used by non-union labor. MUA
secretary 
Rick Newlyn says he has been told that Patrick's Adelaide office has been 
contracting non-union forklift and crane operators to unload a ship
arriving 
in Adelaide next Sunday or Monday. 
(ABC 15/4/98) 

•Brisbane. 
For the first time, Patrick has tried to bring their new workers in by bus.

About 100 union members blocked their path at 3pm in the most dramatic 
scenes on the Brisbane picket line since this dispute began. The bus was 
hit with rotten pies as angry workers pounded the windows with their fists,

forcing open the bus doors screaming at the non-union employees. The bus 
was eventually let through after a police warning the picket line camp
would 
be shut down. 
(ABC 15/4/98) 

•Townsville, Queensland. 
MUA members are maintaining a 24-hour picket at the wharf and have been 
successful in stopping some trucks and trains. Patrick's north Queensland 
manager Michael O'Day claims most of the cargo has gotten through and 
believes that will be the case again today when cattle are trucked into 
the port for export. 
(ABC 15/4/98) 

•Rockhampton, Queensland 
While touring a marginal electorate today Prime Minister "Honest" 
John Howard was met by protestors during his visit to Rockhampton. 
About 30 ACTU members supporting sacked waterside workers confronted 
the Prime Minister as he arrived at the Rockhampton Heritage Village 
for an official lunch. ]

---------------------------- 
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 Homepage:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm
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