Sydney Branch

Contact the Branch

Paul McAleer
Branch Secretary
365 Sussex Street,
Sydney

Ph 02 9264 5024
Email muasyd@mua.org.au

See all Sydney Contacts

Current Campaign

TIME FOR A SEA CHANGE

The Sydney Branch has a long history with the earliest organised wharfies banding together here in Australia’s first city as far back as 1872 with the Sydney Wharf Labourers Union on the now iconic Hungry Mile.

The Sydney Branch is the largest city port branch and has a long history of militant political activity and engagement with the broader labour and left and progressive movement. The branch today reflects the makeup of the Maritime Union of Australia covering around 2,230 workers from all areas of our broad maritime industry.

The biggest areas of work in the Port of Sydney are the two big container terminals at Port Botany. These terminals employ in excess of 1000 wharfies. The Sydney Branch has a proud and militant seafaring membership working in the coastal blue water trade, offshore oil and gas industry, hydrocarbon industry and in dredging. Sydney Ferries is also a big employer as members of the MUA crew and work on the iconic Sydney Harbour ferry fleet. The Branch also covers workers in Towage, Mooring and Unmooring, Bulk and General wharfies servicing Sydney’s large passenger industry trade, port authorities, harbour regulatory jobs, divers (onshore and offshore), charter vessels, coxswains and boat handlers plus many others.

The Sydney Branch has a sister port relation ship with the port of Seattle, Washington.

Branch Press

Sydney Branch News 02-2010 In this issue: -- Fire at Brotherson Dock onboard "APL Colombia‟ -- FARSTAD EBA: Latest discussions and activities -- PATRICKS: Fair Work Australia -- "CSL Thevenard‟ -- SVITZER LINESMEN: EBA Update
Sydney Branch News 01-2010 In this issue: -- 2010: International Year of the Seafarer -- Patricks -- SafeWork 2010 -- Sydney Ferries: A win for common sense -- MUA Youth Committee
The Tourism and Transport Fraud and Sydney Ferries This publication has just been released by the Sydney Branch and provides a brief analysis of the Tourism and Transport Forum agenda at Sydney Ferries. We examine who they are and who they represent.
Branch News No.6 June 2009 MUA Activists - Call to Action Activist Committee revitalised - Youth Committee formed Activity is the lifeblood of the union. We need to work practically to further our many campaigns. We need to engage as many rank and file workers in the struggles of the union as possible. The revitalisation of our activists committee and the formation of our youth committee can assist in these ends.
In Memory of Jim Healy The Sydney Branch is pleased to republish this pamphlet from nearly 50 years ago which was produced at the time of Jim Healy’s death. It puts on record his magnificent and historical contribution to the Australian working class and Trade Union movement. The three articles contained within give a valuable insight into that contribution.
Sydney Branch News No.3 Mar 2009 The MUA has secured an important win in the battle to protect the position of Sydney Ferry workers and ensure that the private operator of the Manly Fast Ferry, Bass and Flinders, has been prevented using non-union Greenfields agreements on their entry into commuter operations on the Sydney Harbour.
Maritime Unity Newspaper The Maritime Unity is the official organ of the Sydney Branch of the MUA. The paper comes out quarterly in a 24 page format and features news and industrial rounds as well as political analysis and a focus on internationallism and solidarity. The Maritime Unity is mailed out to all members of the Sydney Branch. Soon available on the web.

Save White Bay and Glebe Island Download the Branch submission to the Bays Precinct Consultation. The submission contains a comprehensive strategy for the maintenance of Sydney's working harbour.
Save Our Sydney Ferries A new website has been launched, Save Our Sydney Ferries , as part of the ongoing campaign to retain Sydney Ferries in public hands.
MUA Sydney Branch forms sister port relationship with Port of Seattle The Sydney Branch has formed a Sister port relationship with our International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) comrades in the Port of Seattle. See statement from Branch
MUA Film Unit The Sydney Branch continues its long history with film and assists Branch members Cooper Silk and Jamie McMechan in carrying out the traditions of working class film culture in Sydney which was inspired by the original Sydney Branch WWF film unit set up in the 1950s. See some of their work at the MUA film unit YouTube site.
UnionsNSW A one-stop guide to campaigns, events and communications from Unions NSW for both members of the public and our affiliates.
Save Sydney Ferry film on YouTube Watch the film and hear the song about Sydney Ferries
The Hungry Mile The Sydney Branch has produced this booklet on the Hungry Mile. It arises out of our successful campaign to have the precinct along Hickson Road officially named the "Hungry Mile". The MUA was also successful in achieving a Memorandum of Agreement with the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA). This agreement provided for the preservation of maritme and labour history, culture and heritage on any new development aloing the Hungry Mile.