National Conference

International labour leaders from 30 nations converged on Sydney in April to join Australian maritime workers for the 10th anniversary of the 1998 waterfront dispute and the union's National Conference of delegates at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre in Sydney from April 7-11.

National Conference is the policy making body of the union and more than 300 rank and file maritime workers from ports and ships around the nation will come together to work on the union's agenda for organising safe and secure jobs over the next four years, nationally and internationally.

In his introduction to the conference agenda MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin spoke of profound changes in the global political, social and industrial environment over the past decade which have posed new challenges for trade unionism in Australia and throughout the world. These changes have been driven by the neo conservative agenda.

For workers and trade unions the key impact was the erosion of their rights. The 1998 nationwide lockout at Patrick terminals was the most dramatic example of the war on workers waged during these years.

The 2004 national plan arising from the last conference however enabled the union and its members to protect and advance their interests and those of the working class generally despite the political conditions they were working under.

The MUA counts the demise of the Howard government and its anti-union, anti-labour laws among its key achievements over the past four years.

Another key union achievement has been the strengthening of international strategic alliances with global unions and regional alliances, while mobilising men and women, young and old, within the union and the community. This has been achieved through political and industrial organisation alongside union culture and communications.

The challenges ahead now centre on working with the Labor Government to restore a fair workplace alongside progressive industry and social policies.

How to revitalising the Australian flagged shipping industry, overcome the skills crisis and improve safety on the wharves and other job sites are the big challenges. Four workers have been killed in work accidents since the last conference. One third of the Australian merchant marine was lost under the Howard Government, leaving a diminished, ageing fleet and an ageing workforce.

Opening National Conference and keynote speaker is the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Anthony Albanese, with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Workplace Relations and Education Julia Gillard addressing delegates on the Wednesday, with international speakers and officers' reports throughout the week.

Conference delegates will consider reports on the union enterprise agreement strategy, industrial relations legislation, employment assistance, superannuation and credit union mergers, graduated retirement income protections, union alliances, disputes and ongoing campaigns, anti privatisation battles, recruiting in the recreational dive and offshore industries, the union commitment to indigenous Australians, and the Tas Bull Memorial International Aid Project.

More than 130 international labour leaders from Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia Pacific will be attending conference alongside the 300 MUA rank and file delegates, officers and staff.

Immediately following conference the union is co-hosting the 4th Mining and Maritime seminar also at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre, Sydney on April 14-15

A special edition of MWJ will be published in May carrying reports and resolutions arising from the conference that will go to nationwide meetings of members for endorsement in the week of May 27.

National Council

Working with Labor

In the lead up to conference the union held a special National Council meeting in March to reflect on the successful defeat of the Howard Government and the future under a Labor Government.

Both the Minister for Transport Anthony Albanese and parliamentary secretary, newly elected MP Greg Combet, attended different sessions over the two days to discuss with council areas of cooperation and joint activity between the various unions, particularly in the development of comprehensive industry policy in transport.

Paul Howes, AWU, Tony Maher, Andrew Vickers, Peter Miners (CFMEU) Tony Sheldon (TWU) Fred Ross (AMOU), Trevor Dobbins (RTBU).

MUA National Secretary said that the ACTU and the trade unions helped get the ALP over the line, but warned the ad campaign would not have worked alone if the unions had not got out and made the connection within the community through activity and communication of the great dangers the WorkChoices laws presented working women and men and their families. The yr@w worth voting for campaign made a major contributionto enormous swings in some seats.

"It was a fine moment for the Australian labour movement overthrowing one of the worst conservative governments in any developed nation," he said. "Australian workers will now be watching to see what happens in this country, particularly in the area of working rights. Increasingly as well we have to think globally. It's a global market, global industry, global jobs and if you don't also organise globally you get pinned nationally."

The National Secretary then outlined the key MUA policy objectives under Labor's first term:

Revitalisation of Australian coastal shipping

Repeal of Regulation 1.1 of WorkChoices

Reform of industrial relations legislation

Australian ratification of the ILO Consolidated Maritime Labour Convention (the Seafarers Bill of Rights)

Implementation of a National Code of Practice for Stevedoring

Reform of NOPSA and to ensure the re-application of the Navigation Act to offshore facilities

Reform of the Income Tax Assessment Act to provide equity for Australian seafarers in international shipping

Recognition of Merchant Navy Day

Reform of ship safety, entry level qualifications and career pathing

Reform of AMSA, and greater participation in IMO positions to be adopted by Australia

Implementation of a strategy to address the seafarer labour shortage

Commencement of reform of the Seacare scheme

Increased participation of Australian ships and seafarers in the expanding LNG trade

Ensuring the Migration Act applies to commercial maritime operations in Australian coastal waters.

Day 2 of the council meeting included an address by Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and by Greg Combet MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement.

The minister informed the council that he intended to announce the Shipping Review, the terms of reference of which included

1. Review the policy and regulatory arrangements in place for the coastal shipping sector;

2. Assess strategies for developing an adequate skilled maritime workforce in order to facilitate

growth of the Australian coastal shipping sector;

3. Consider the effect of coastal shipping policy on the development of an efficient and productive

freight transport system, taking into account issues such as environmental and safety impacts

and competitive neutrality between coastal shipping and other modes of transport; and

4. Consider the implications of coastal shipping policy for defence support, maritime safety and security, environmental sustainability and tourism.

The Minister also spoke about the importance of developing infrastructure particularly in ports and he encouraged and welcomed the union's input into the infrastructure Australia process.

The National Secretary in thanking the minister outlined the ongoing abuses of the permit system of which he was now the minister responsible. These abuses could not continue over the life of the inquiry and needed urgent attention. He also indicated to the minister that Australian workers and their families through the industry superannuation funds were major investors in the Australian economy including infrastructure and hoped that this important fact was fully taken into account when the minister finalised the make up of the Infrastructure of Australia committee.

Greg Combet thanked the union for its support during the election campaign, acknowledging he would not be in parliament otherwise.

"In 1998 we always said we'll get through it and we'll see them off," he said. "Reith went first. Corrigan's gone. Now Howard's gone and the Howard Government's gone but we're still here. And the union's in good shape. We had a lot against us during that dispute as you well know. But we finally made it."

The former ACTU secretary said there were a lot of lessons gained out of the Patrick dispute and they were applied at the ACTU in all subsequent significant campaigns - Hardies, Ansett and yr@w.

"We learned a lot from the Patrick dispute - legal, political, new communications, and mass mobilisation strategies - not looking inwardly, recognising that for us to survive we'd need to reach out and win the support of the Australian community."

But it would not be easy working under the Labor Government, which would be dealing with inflation. Greg Combet advised unions to think strategically on how to contribute to infrastructure investment and combat inflation by investing wage rises into super contributions and boosting savings.

"Align your own strategic thinking on the industry with key government policies," he advised.

In thanking Greg the national secretary reflected on the tremendous contribution he had made as an officer of the Waterside Workers' Federation and a life member of the MUA, particularly through the Patrick Dispute. He said Greg could rely on the ongoing support of the union in his political responsibilities and also welcomed the opportunity to discuss at a convenient point the importance of shipping and stevedoring to the national defence task. The MUA looked forward to working with Greg and the minister for defence Giles Fitzgibbons in realising new opportunities for the national interest in this area.