Mailbag

A Privilege

What a wonderful privilege rank and file members, delegates and officials were afforded in attending the 2nd international mining and maritime conference. The hospitality the ILWU showed us was overwhelming. We arrived in LA after a seemingly brief 14-hour flight; itıs amazing how a few beers while meeting new comrades makes time fly.

The host committee, who greeted us on arrival, deserves special mention; these people volunteered their time, mostly costing them a weekıs pay, to ensure conference delegates were made welcome.

If any one doubts the value of international solidarity, they need only cast their mind back to a large orange vessel by the name of Columbus Canada, sent back from LA to be unloaded and reloaded with union labour, all thanks to the ILWU.

Organised labour, especially in the transport corridor, e.g mines to port, are under continual attack. The reasons are obvious. Break us and the rest should be easy. These attacks vary from unionists getting their head bashed in, like Jorge Sivet Beron from the Chilean dockworkers, to Howardıs legislative changes to Australian IR laws.

As delegates return to their various work sites and distribute information sheets, resolutions and the Long Beach Declaration, I would suggest that everyone reads them to get a feel for the detail of the conference and its outcomes. Now is as good a time as any to educate our new members about how we've come to enjoy the workplace conditions that MUA members have. Itıs not because of some benevolent boss, but because of the struggles of our forefathers. The struggles continue and are about to intensify.

Solidarity makes us strong, global solidarity makes us stronger.

Mick Jones

Union No: 9129

M&M: Long and Hard

The workshop of veterans/pensioners deliberated long and hard on the international problems facing the workforce and the retired.

A paper was prepared to be read to the conference together with two resolutions. The paper read as follows:

The Veterans & Pensioners want to thank the leadership for inviting us to this important conference. We very much appreciate the opportunity to participate and the respect youıve shown for the valuable role veterans and pensioners play in support of our unions. We look forward to our continuing participation in future international conferences and expansion of international veteran and pensioner solidarity.

Veterans and pensioners representing various branches of the Maritime Union of Australia and the Pacific Coast Pensionersı Association participated in our workshop along with activists from New Zealand who are moving to establish pensioner groups. ILWU Local 13ıs benefit officer, and the ILWU Longshore Division's coast benefit specialist also participated.

Discussions covered the importance and role of veterans and pension groups as keepers of our history and traditions providing support and guidance for activists of the union and especially the need to unify veterans and pensioners worldwide. Pension, health care and security issues were also discussed.

Current activities include supporting members, spouses and widows, working on community and political activities in support of unions and working people, cooperation with national retiree organisations, including serving in leadership positions, fund raising and encouraging more participation in veteran and pensioner groups.

Our discussions focused on the need to build our groups, help establish new groups around the world in all unions, encourage recent retirees and soon to retire activists to participate in their veterans and pensioners group or help start a group. Everyone must understand that only lifelong commitment to the strength of our unions will secure their lives in retirement. Most important for this conference is the need to build international solidarity.

Our workshop adopted both the Pacific Coast Pensioner resolution, titled 'World Retirees Solidarity Conference' and the National MUA Veterans' Association letter regarding veterans and pensioners participating in International Mining and Maritime Conferences.

Based on our discussions we requested that this conference adopt as part of a statement of policy a position in support of veteran and pensioner worldwide solidarity, the establishment of veterans and pensioners groups in every union and that veterans and pensioner groups be included as invitees and participants in all future international conferences.

Fraternally participated in by Veterans of the MUA, Pacific Coast Pensioner Group, ILWU Coast Benefits Specialist, Southern California Pensioners, Columbia River Pensioners, West Oregon Pensioners, Southern California Pensioners, Vancouver Pensioners, MUNZ and NZ Rail & Maritime Union.

RESOLVED: The ILWU Pacific Coast Pensioners Association join with the MUA veterans and the Canadian Labour Congress to organise a conference of retired worldwide maritime workers in a show of solidarity opposing free trade agreements. It should act in the defence of trade unions and support their building nationally and internationally and at all times work on behalf of the working class.

RESOLVED: The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Pacific Coast and Pensioners Association join the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) Veterans and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and other like minded groups which are prepared to assist to organise a conference of worldwide retired maritime workers that will work through the sphere of international solidarity to oppose free trade agreements and act in defence of trade unions, and when needed assist in formulating trade unions and at all times work for the international and national solidarity for and on behalf of the working class.

The letter and resolutions were read to the conference by Anne Auvinen and were greeted by acclamation.

We came from the conference confident that with the solidarity and unity shown, the workers will prevail Barry Hounslow Secretary MUA Veterans South Australia

Inspired

Well, what a week flat out conferencing and socialising.

There were 222 participants in our conference from all over the Pacific Rim, representing 3 million workers in the mining, maritime,manufacturing, transport, energy and construction industries.

The host committee were just great, having social events planned for nearly every evening and even having day trips for the partners of people at the conference.

There were many speakers at the conference but the one who inspired me the most was ACTU President Sharan Burrow.

We met with Sharon and were interviewed with her by the MUA film crew.

On day three we broke up into workshops to exchange ideas on workplace conditions and to come up with resolutions. There were 27 women participants discussing health and safety, equipment, childcare, maternity and paternity leave, sanitary facilities, harassment and bullying The US faces the same issues we do in Australia, but our women's committee seems to be miles in front. We were the only group that had a womenıs committee up and running, so there was much discussion on how ours was run.

The following resolutions were made:

Recognising that women are impacted by globalisation and privatisation because they are in most instances, the last hired and therefore the first to lose their jobs, it is resolved that the delegates of the Second International Mining and Maritime Unions Seminar begin to implement active women's committees in their unions where they do not exist.

Resolved: That the Second International Mining and Maritime Unions Seminar continues to have a goal of ten percent participation of women in its activities.

Resolved: That the Second International Mining and Maritime Unions Seminar support the formation of a womenıs network to exchange dialogue.

I thank the MUA and members for giving me this opportunity to represent our union at the conference. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Julie Ansell

TT Line Call Centre, Devonport

Veteran's Launch

Following an invitation from Veteransı at Whyalla, Barry Hounslow and myself travelled there on May 1 to help with the launching of a Veteranıs Organisation.

The function was a tremendous success due to good organisation by Nick Kriticos and his lovely wife Roma.

The local paper ran our picture and story quoting retired Whyalla seafarer Jim Spikin on the support the union had given retired wharfies suffering asbestos disease and how the get-together helped retired workers.

Special mention was given to the organiser of the Whyalla Maritime Veteransı Association, Nick Kriticos:

"It's a way of keeping in touch, not just bumping into each other at Westlands," Nick told the local press.

The report also recorded that Barrie Hounslow and I spoke of caring for sick maritime workers, pensions and superannuation.

Approximately 25 retired members attended accompanied by 15 of their wives.

A BBQ lunch with lots of goodies provided by the ladies and a drop of the amber fluid led to lots of friendly banter.

Both Barry and I spoke to a very attentive group about the activities we have been engaged in at Port Adelaide, to show the importance of a Veteransı Group being established.

We were extremely pleased with the enthusiasm we encountered and have no doubt that an active Veteransı Organisation will soon be ready to assist the younger members of the MUA with the struggles ahead.

Barry and Nick both went to the ILWU Conference in Los Angeles looking for further opportunity to develop ideas.

Comradely greetings,

Rex Munn

Retired member

Adelaide

Road Map

It was a privilege to meet all of the comrades at the seminar, and we deeply appreciate the warm hospitality and well-prepared conference.

The conference enabled us not only to find a 'road map' which we will use in the future to get over the difficulties which seafarers are facing, but to inspire confidence in continuing our struggles against globalised maritime industries and in mobilising international solidarity.

We at the JSU can assure you that we will also spare no efforts on accomplishing that goal with your unions.

Once again, we thank all of you, in particular brothers and sisters of the host committee, for making us welcome and giving us this opportunity of sharing lots of inspiration through the seminar. We look forward to working with you soon.

Kind Regards,

Shoji Yamashita

ITF Co-ordinator

All Japan Seamanıs Union

Katsuji Taki

Assistant Secretary

International affairs and Seafarers section All Japan Seaman's Union

Proud

I congratulate the Brisbane officials and fellow unionists in the MUA for conducting a brilliantly organised march and celebration to commemorate May Day. My girlfriend and myself were very proud to have been asked to caArry the MUA flag alongside my brother Charlie Gray and his fellow "comrade" Bruce Dolman.

Having moved up from Sydney only six months ago I was both taken aback by the attendance of all the fellow workers in support and by the after function which was great, especially the venue. It was as good if not better than the march put on by Sydney (I'm obviously biased now that I am living in Brisbane). Well done MUA and fellow unionists. I thought that we (MUA) should have won the "trophy" but maybe next year.

Ann Gray

Brisbane

Special Guest

I volunteer with ETWA, a member based volunteer association supporting women in East Timor. Early in May, together with the Timor Sea Justice Campaign and the Australia East Timor Association (AETA), we held a function at Trades Hall in Melbourne while Elaine Briere was here, touring with her film Betrayed On behalf of ETWA, AETA and the Timor Sea Justice Campaign, I'd like to thank the MUA for bringing Elaine to Australia and making it possible for the East Timor solidarity community to meet her. We are very grateful that through your support we were given the opportunity to host this successful event, and I'd also like to extend our appreciation for promoting the event through your networks.

Elaine is a very special person. She stayed with us when in Melbourne which was an honour and a pleasure.

In solidarity,

Deb Salvagno

ETWA

Melbourne

Teamster Victory This is great news, the MUA was part of this historic victory for the Teamsters that is restoring hope for the port truck drivers that continue to fight to be recognised under a union collective bargaining agreement. Please give my best to Jamie Newlyn for the great job completed while part of the Teamster delegation to Central America.

Yours in Solidarity

Ray Familathe

International Affairs Director

ILWU

Police State

I suspect the Federal Governmentıs plans to police check everyone involved in airports and seaports is an attempt to exercise industrial power over workers who are very well unionised.

They will use this power under the guise of national security.

I just wanted to share some findings from the work that legal centres have done on police checks. Firstly, they unfairly continue to punish people for crimes they have already been punished for. Usually record checks go back 10 years (well into some people's adolescence, where we all have done stupid things).

Secondly, police records show everything including charges (where people might be innocent) and findings of guilt where no conviction has been recorded (a magistrates or judges way of trying to ensure there is no ongoing punishment as a result of the penalty).

Thirdly, company directors found guilty of a criminal offence are only prevented from being a director for five years.

Fourthly, checks are not an overall good gauge of the character of a workforce because the ones you might want to know about will probably be too smart to have been caught by police and therefore not have a record.

Police record checks are open to abuse by employers and should not be relied on as the sole method of assessing someone's suitability to work in a port.

There are more detailed submissions around on this issue.

Richard Duffy

Community Legal Education and Law Reform Worker Eastern Community Legal Centre Melbourne

Time to Go, John

Let me pre-empt the media and say goodbye to a person who is anti-unionist and untrustworthy. Most of us have a sixth sense to know we're not wanted ‹ innuendo, private suggestions, public rallies, national strikes. But others choose to ignore the warnings and live in a world of make believe.

One such individual is Australia's Prime Minister, John Howard.

It will take years to give the elderly a quality of living many Australians fought and died for. They will be disillusioned and destitute. Single parents have been shafted forever and relegated to the bottom of the ladder, not having enough to afford medical care, schooling and quality food. Then there is the unemployed, treated as another species while hired guest labour takes Australian jobs.

The legacy Mr Howard leaves Australia will be a blight on Australiaıs history, a bleak period future leaders will apologise for, a period historians will refer to as the deceiving years. When war was declared on evil, who defined evil, Bush, Blair or 'what's his name'? Fortunately, all three will be gone in the near future and the pack of cards will diminish.

For a very long time, we have been giving away living conditions fought for by our forefathers and now it has become a habit. Time to say 'enough is enough'. The Howard Government should never have been there in the first place. It lied its way in and has lied every since.

Yes, Mr Howard. Time to go. How's it feel to be pre-empted by a member of the MUA? Or will this change your plans again? The knives are out. You've turned your back on Australians and you are facing the wrong way.

Kirin (Curly) Ross

Union No: 6015011

Budget Blues

A year has passed yet once again,

it's budget time-itıs all the clang.

Cuts galore is the order of the day,

The rich growing richer-the poor have to pay.

And as Treasurer Pete delivers his speech,

The people cry foul-a bloody sucking leach.

It's his 10th year now of dishing out the money,

Life at the bottom is no milk and honey!

The smirk on his face tells it all,

Treasurer Pete has the call.

I'll cut those pensions to the bone,

I've known for years where to hone.

I'm a man who favours the filthy rich,

Regardless of battlers desperate pitch.

I'll tell you all ­ once more if I must, I relish the thought of people going bust!

So as Treasurer Pete concluded his spiel, The sick and disabled sensed a grubby deal.

A cut of $300 million is their lot,

Coerced like the unemployed is Pete's grand plot.

For single mums too ­ the news is the same,

Pete and little Johnny decreeing them fair game.

And as this gang give Medicare the flick,

Life is no picnic for the very sick.

Yet for owners of Capital ­ Pete is their cove,

Put in the slipper ­ in one big drove.

Our lives of prestige are here to stay,

make those workers toil for very low pay.

Oh Pete dear fellow we love your wry smirk,

For old chum ­ you ensure the odd perk.

Yet alas dear Pete, while you're despised by most,

Our puppet Howard still tips you at the post!

And as the workers await July, They deride,

Pie in the sky when you die.

For all and sundry ­ the message is similar,

Work till you drop ­ as your pupils grow dimmer.

Then as Treasurer Pete carves up the cake,

The people's anger grows in its wake.

For history is littered with Pollies and their type,

Who treat the masses no better than tripe

Frank Malone

Retired Seaman's Union member

Union no: 1014