Tactics

THE industrial relations regime, regional and global unionism, the federal election, union alliances, ships and ports of convenience, women and youth strategies were all high on the agenda at the Maritime Union's National Council, held in Sydney in October.

Around the table over the week-long talks, council built and strengthened political and industrial alliances with national and regional transport unions, the broad Australian labour movement and the Australian Labor Party.

Top of the agenda was election strategy. Just back from conferencing a global union response in defence of workers' rights at International Transport Workers' Federation Conference in Durban, national councillors used the week to focus on regional and national tactics. In Australia the prime focus was the next federal election -- the defeat of the Howard Government and his anti-worker laws.

"Howard is from the far right," said MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin. "He is a man on a mission. It goes beyond the neo conservative agenda run by international coporations in their self interest. They are reshaping Australia for the haves at the expense of the have nots."

The conservatives were reconstructing the nation's social development by polarising wealth and power, the national secretary said. The government's industrial regime was all about removing the right to have an alternative voice in this country.

"We have a domestic and an international strategy working against Howard's IR regime," he said. "We have the political and industrial and international mileage. We're not a big union, but we're a tough union and a very well connected union. And it's critical we do everything to get rid of these people because they are fundamentally against working men and women. Howard plays on an atmosphere of xenophobia - fear of people from other culutres and social backgrounds. He exploits this fear factor into economic and political power."

Labor & Labour

Opposition leader Kim Beazley, who attended council on the Friday, thanked the union for its steadfast support in the election campaign and again pledged to rip up the IR laws if elected in 2007.

"Most alternative voices to the Tories have been silenced," he said. "Only two are left with the essence of Australian democracy that stand up for Australian people -- the unions and the ALP. We now stand shoulder to shoulder. This is how the Labor Party started... union organisers on the streets, signing people up at local, state and federal elections. And that is what you are now doing and it is why we are going to win the next election."

The Labor leader also committed, once elected, to stop the rorting of the Navigation Act that has opened up the Australian coastal trade to foreign ships and guest workers by way of single voyage permits.

"I'm a very strong believer in cabotage," he said. "I'm a very strong believer in making sure that single voyage permits are not the norm. And I'm very strong believer that they never apply when dangerous cargoes are being moved around our coast. The Howard Government has been prepared to make sacrifices on national security to appease its shipper mates who want cheap freight rates."

Kim Beazley compared the abuse of the permit system to that of Long Stay Temporary Business Visa (subclass 457) used to bring in guest workers. Documents leaked to the ACTU and the media during council showed labour agents in Asia were forcing guest workers to sign contracts that they would not join or communicate with Australian unions. This denial of labour rights is already widespread among manning agents recruiting third world crew for Flag of Convenience ships working on our coast.

The Labor leader stressed that both the guest worker visas and the voyage permits under the Navigation Act were meant as a last resort, not to destroy Australian working conditions and deprive young Australians of jobs and training. He said . 'the 457 visas were being used to target the Australian trade union movement. And in the case of single voyage permits it was used to target

the MUA.

"I'm totally confident we'll win the next election," he said. "I've had 40 years in politics and I've fought so many battles inside the Labor Party and without. This is the most important one. This is the battle in defence of Australian values. This is the one we can't afford to lose. We cannot afford to lose this fight as it is about the dignity of the Australian people. Therefore we will not lose."

TV ads & swinging voters

Also a guest at Council was ACTU Secretary Greg Combet. He outlined the union TV advertising campaign and marginal seats strategy. The ACTU has 21 full time organisers in 22 marginal seats who are targeting swinging voters in a nationally co-ordinated campaign. The MUA, together with the CFMEU (mining and Energy division) are co-sponsoring two marginal seats, Dobell (NSW) and Dawson (Qld).

"The next 12 months is critical in the history of labour movement and the history of the country," said Greg Combet. "If Howard is voted in again we will get hammered. The laws will be changed again. Awards will be gone. It is time to dig deep to give it everything we've got to get rid of John Howard. We have to give it absolutely everything we have. Your two unions are helping to lead the way."

In response Council voted to double the levy supporting the advertising campaigns. The MUA is also co-sponsoring the Day of Action at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with the CFMEU (mining) on November 30.

The MUA Veterans' Association has also mobilised an army of just under 1000 retired maritime workers against the government.

"We totally oppose the Americanisation of this country," said Veteran's National Secretary Fred Krausert. "When there is instability it's workers and pensioners who are first to pay the price, not the corporates. The Veterans have not been idle; we have been ready to assist in all the union campaigns. Every time one of our officials has called on us to assist around the country we have responded.

"This is the last chance for some of us," he said. "Just one more election. A lot of us won't be here to fight the next one."

Horror stories of the impact of the new IR laws introduced by the Howard Government since it seized both houses of parliament took up much of the council documentation.

A report by the Office of Employment Advocate recently found that individual agreements filed since the new Act became law, all dropped at least one key award condition, and one in five removed all award conditions. The majority removed penalty rates and leave loadings, one in three reduced overtime rates, two in five removed public holiday entitlements and one in five failed to provide for any

pay increase.

Meanwhile the107 sacked unionists on a Western Australia railway construction site face fines up to $6600 each or prison if convicted after prosecutions for alleged breach of industrial action orders. Council pledged ongoing support for these workers.

Transport Union Federation

To date MUA members have been protected to a degree from the new laws under collective agreements. But that will change with the gradual increase in the influence from the Work Choices legilsation. Industrially a key MUA strategy has been to build alliances with kindred unions. Special guests at council were Transport Workers' Union Federal Secretary Tony Sheldon and Rail Tram and Bus Union National Secretary Bob Hayden.

The TWU has seen a large growth in independent contractors in the trucking industry. Conditions and wages are down and fatalities up.

Tony Sheldon told council 65 people have been slaughtered on the roads in NSW alone this year. Nationally the toll is 1100.

"Their death is all down to corporate greed," said Tony Sheldon. "Over 40 per cent of drivers will die from physical exhaustion and 20 per cent of truck drivers take illegal stimulants to do their jobs, not for recreation uses, but just to maintain the hours that are required by the companies. We are in desperate need to organise this sector."

In transport one thing all three unions have in common is Toll and its newly acquired subsidiary Pacific National, Patrick Stevedoring and Patrick shipping.

"They would not allow us to campaign collectively," said Bob Hayden. "For the first time in history the RTBU had a picket line and, after 18 months, we won a collective agreement. We had an enormous amount of strength and comradeship from the MUA and TWU. We would not have been successful without your support."

Global Agreements

The year has seen an unprecedented change in stevedoring with both major operators in Australia - Patrick and P&O -- changing hands. Since its takeover of P&O, DP World boasts 51 terminals in 30 countries. The ITF, fresh from its recent success with the International Bargaining Forum with shipowners, has seized on the transition to develop a worldwide campaign to lock global stevedoring networks into international minimum standards.

The added advantage for the MUA is that global organisation places increasing pressure on the effect of the Howard Goverment's repressive IR legislation.

Agreements would include rights to collective bargaining, trade union organising, direct employment as opposed to contracting out or outsourcing, permanent jobs, training, skills development and career opportunities, a safe workplace, workplace democracy and participation on technological changes, port security and restrictions on the use of foreign labour.

Paddy Crumlin, who now chairs the ITF dockers' section, will continue to co-ordinate the international campaign together with the ITF dockers' section.

Aid for Aids

Deputy National Secretary Jim Tannock presented a video to council on the plight of African children, many of them orphaned by Aids and how the union was setting up a fund through the ACTU aid agency Apheda, to help provide for them.

Neighbours

In the region, the MUA has been working with maritime and transport workers' unions in New Zealand, East Timor and PNG. All were represented at council -- President of the PNG Maritime Workers Industrial Union Vani Hebou, Assistant General Secretary, MUNZ Terry Ryan, President, MUNZ Phil Adams, General Secretary, RMTU Wayne Butson and Timorese union leaders.

The Interim PM of East Timor Jose Ramos Horta has approached the Australian Labor Party seeking union assistance in helping Timorese youth train as waterfront workers and find employment in other countries.

"Horta is trying to find jobs for unemployed Timorese who are easy prey to gangs," said MUA Assistant National Secretary Mick Doleman. "We want to ensure that any overseas jobs are genuine and not an excuse to use Timorese labour to undermine existing labour in developed countries. Or for union busting. We will assist as long as it's kosher. As long as it involves the Timorese union and we have guarantees it is not labour of convenience. Horta must concede unions are involved at every level."

The union has briefed the ALP on the MUA history of helping establish the Maritime and Transport Workers' Union in Timor and our ongoing campaign to get Timorese jobs in the offshore oil and gas industry.

Timorese Union Federation (KSTL) General Secretary Rigoberto Monteiro reported to council that ethnic conflict continues and that some Timorese believe a foreign country, namely Australia, is behind this. Rigo said the recently deposed PM Alkitiri was very strong on the Timorese securing their oil reserves. He wanted 80 per cent for Timor. The Howard Government wants 50/50.

"Timor is a small country, the poorest in Asia," said Rigo Monteiro. "Our government did not want to borrow money. We did not want debt. Now Horta is going to the International Monitory Fund cap in hand. Everything is for sale. Alkitiri had a very strong position on oil. Ramos Horta may be more ready to sign up with foreign

governments."

A former journalist, Rigo said the political developments had affected the trade union movement and the union federation was trying to bring workers of different ethnic backgrounds back together. He thanked the MUA for its assistance over the years.

"We are trying to build our solidarity among unions in other countries like Australia and Norway so you can fight for us when we cannot fight for ourselves," he said. "We are too weak to fight our government and the Australian government alone."

For Vice National Secretary of the Maritime and Transport Union of East Timor (UMTTL) Paulino Da Costa, attending MUA Council was his first overseas trip. But his thoughts were for his family at home in hiding.

Their house in Dili had been ransacked. They had lost everything and fled. They now lived in a refugee camp.

"I fear if my wife and children returned to Dili with me they would be killed," he said.

The union raised $3,000 to help Paulino on his return.

"Your struggle is our struggle," said Paddy Crumlin, recalling the union bans on Indonesian cargo during the invasion in 1975 and the massacre at Santa Cruz on November 12 1991. "We risked fines for secondary boycotts but any maritime worker would be proud to go to gaol for that. Anyone around this table would be. We have a long friendship and solidarity."

Assistant National Secretary Mick Doleman recalled East Timor's first May Day march in 2000.

"It was just after the carnage," said Mick. "The place was still smoking. You could see the fear, shock and horror on the faces of the people. They dared to oppose the Indonesian regime and they paid a terrible price. The recent upheaval could not have come at a worst time."

He reported on the work MUA activist Mick Killick did helping Timorese transport workers organise and establish a transport union.

"Mick got arrested and was put in prison during one dispute," said Paddy Crumlin. The charges are unresolved apparently. "

The MUA is now campaigning to get a training program going so that Timorese could get work in the Timor Gap.

"It is really important for Timorese workers to be involved in the oil and gas industry," said Rigo. "We have great job opportunities. We realise we don't have skills and training. But we can get trained and get involved."

"We've got to get the union recognised by the Government and offshore industry, including Texas based multinational Conoco Philips," said Mick.

The union is also helping fund the building of union rooms in Dili with the Norwegian offshore union NOPAD and the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers.

Sisters

Women now make up one in 20 MUA members and more than half the workforce on some jobs. But they are still underrepresented on site and branch committees.

National Secretary Paddy Crumlin told councillors this was not good enough.

"In certain areas women are not getting the support of the delegates," he said. "There needs to be more understanding of their rights. It's hard to address women's issues without dealing with broader delegate structures. We must confront any prejudices in the union. We need to do more. Women are not just an agenda item. They can't be shoved aside. Women in male dominated workforces have special needs. They need our affirmation, our support. Some sectors of our organisation are in denial. They are not confronting sexism. We don't have an effective women's policy if we are not putting women on our committees."

The national secretary used as an example one job site where women were a majority but refused representation on the job committee.

This year national office sent four women to the ITF Congress . "This should be a shared program with every workplace," he said.

"The work our women have done on the ITF is internationally recognised. We need to put women on our committees; we need to give them delegate training. We should recruit more women into the industry. And there's no reason women should be restricted to the ferries, catering and call centres, they can be wharfies and seafarers. Women are equal and deserve equal opportunity. They are very articulate. They know their rights. The future political and industrial wealth of our organisation depends on including not excluding them."

Women's jnt liaison officer, Port Botany wharfie Sue Virago also called on council to support White Ribbon Day (the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) in November.

Regeneration

A new union initiative is youth. The MUA has set up a committee to launch a strategy to mobilise our 1700

plus members under the age of 30 and hold the union's inaugural youth conference in October next year.

The conference will emphasis the political, industrial and social development of younger MUA members, enabling them to get involved in the union. Council resolved to send a delegation to the World Youth and Students Festival and have an MUA representative on the World Federation of Democratic Youth Committee. The ultimate aim is to educate the next generation of union leaders.