Notices

By Maritime Union of Australia

Sound the Alarm

A new initiative, the Confidential Marine Reporting Scheme, has been set up by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, to help make Australian waters safe.

Any MUA member who witnesses anything that could endanger a ship or its crew can now report the matter by phone, internet or fax and know their identity is protected.

The scheme is voluntary and confidential. It does not replace the standard mandatory accident or incident reporting system, but aims to cover marine safety threats that would otherwise go unreported.

These could include such things as unsafe navigation, defective lifesaving or firefighting equipment, hull corrosion, crew fatigue, unreported accidents or near misses.

Anyone - seafarers, waterside workers, support crew of tugs or dredges or members of the public, who has a concern about a ship safety matter, but fears sanctions, is invited to make a confidential report.

The scheme is especially devised to protect workers who fear that if they speak out they could face the sack, jeopardise their careers or personal relationships, be branded a troublemaker or be ostracised by peers.

Anonymous reports, however, are not accepted, as there is no way of contacting the caller to clarify the report or get additional information. Also CMRS must be satisfied that the reporter's motivation is only in the interests of ship, crew and marine safety and is not out to settle a personal score.

Nor does the scheme include industrial disputes or work accidents that are normally reported through other channels.

Under the CMRS your name and details are not included in the records or on the database. But your report is investigated and the details of the incident are passed on to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to take further action. CMRS officials will also then contact you and let you know what has been done, before destroying any record of your name and contact details. But if you want to find out the final outcome of your report you will need to contact CMRS and make inquiries.

If at some later time someone contacts CMRS to enquire about the source of a report, the manager, hand on heart, will inform the enquirer that 'I have no idea'.

How to report

BY MAIL:

Reply Paid 600

PO Box 600

Civic Square

ACT 2608

FAX: (02) 6274 6461

TEL 1800 020505

INTERNET: www.atsb.gov.au

Forms are available at the internet address above, from missions to seafarers, maritime union, shipping company safety offices or directly from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau

Lord of the Docks

It's played in LA, Hawaii, and Newtown, Sydney, now it's coming to the big screen and your home DVD. But only with your help.

Wharf Rats to Lord of the Docks is being made into a Hollywood movie. Academy Award winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler has filmed the play performed by Ian Ruskin and Arlo Guthrie is donating his song about the Australian seafarer who founded the ILWU and became a legend on the docks of the US.

Like the MUA, the ILWU wants to keep its history alive. Harry's heroic saga has inspired writers and artists and workers alike for decades and our US brothers are now asking for donations from MUA members to complete the film - those donating $70 (Australian or more will receive an autographed DVD.

Send your cheque to The Harry Bridges Project PO Box 662018, Los Angeles, CA 900066, USA

Delegates Training

Over the last three months, two Branches (WA and Victoria) have organised training for their delegates. These courses were well received by the membership and comments made suggested it will assist the delegates in their role representing the members on the job. Therefore, members are encouraged to register for delegate training in their respective Branches.

Training courses are available at two levels, and incorporate the following.

Level 1:

• Why do we need unions

• Current issues in the workplace

• What's happening to unions

• The union response

• Role of the union delegate

• Building the union in the workplace

• Motivating workers

• Dealing with grievances

• A plan for your workplace

Level II:

• MUA website, (how to register, how to find articles, access the delegates toolkit, subscribe to news etc)

• Branch reporting systems

• Membership Financiality

• Negotiations

• Running a Grievance

• Rules of Debate

• Organising a Meeting

• Chairing a meeting

• Taking Minutes

• Future of WRA

If members are interested they should contact their local Branch and register their interest.

Sea Service Records

Records for Australian merchant navy seafarers from 1922-1975 are available at the National Archives of Australia in Canberra (www.naa.gov.au).

Enquires should go to the Archives reference service on 1300 866 881 or email ref@naa.gov.au.

Enquiries should include all relevant details in their request - seafarer's full name, date and place of birth, period of service and any other details such as the names of any ships on which the seafarer served.

Recent records (less than 30 years old) are kept with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and are not available to the public.

Rough Reds

A Few Rough Reds which featured veteran wharfies Murray Norris, Brian Manning and Ron Maxwell (see MWJ review, p38, August/September, 2004) proved such a success it is now in its second reprint and there is going to be a sequel.

The next National Labour History Conference which is being held in Sydney in June/July, is proposing a session to present a further series of stories by rank and file comrades.

The plan is that these and other contributions would subsequently be published as "Some More Rough Reds" or under a similar title. An editorial group is currently being formed to undertake this role.

Phil Griffiths in his preface to A Few Rough Reds says, "This small book represents but a tiny proportion of the stories that could be told about rough reds organising. This organising work represents the best traditions of Australian communism. These are stories to educate all who want to change the world."

Hal Alexander, from the Organising Committee, says the sequel aims to tell some more stories for those who want to change the world.

Hal Alexander can be contacted by phone on 02 9519 4992

Or by mail at Unit 115, Block O, Ashmore St, Erskineville, NSW 2043