Mailbag

Going West

I was elected to represent Port Kembla branch veterans at the WA Branch conference in July. It was a privilege to witness such a timely and eventful gathering of committed comrades, not only from around Australia but also from overseas.

I was able to catch up with former comrades I had worked with in the 1970s in Fremantle; comrades, who, like myself, had taken advantage of union policy in transferring to a port that was short of labour, thereby relieving our home ports of mass 'idle time'.

We could not help but notice the difference between our time in the branch some 30 years or more ago, and the way the port is being run now. The vitality and energy from the leadership was impressive. Fremantle branch executive and staff are to be congratulated for the tremendous hard work they put in to making conference a success. Also tributes should go to our two Freo vets Jimmy Bray and Buddy Durand for their sterling work.

Conference kicked off with Chris Cain, branch secretary, giving a stirring speech, encouraging as much participation as possible. He emphasised it was not about union officials dominating proceedings; we needed input from the floor to make conference a success.

ALP guest politicians, state and federal, got stuck into Howard's IR laws. Alannah McTiernan, WA minister for planning and infrastructure, spoke of the WA ports boom in exports. All WA ports are undergoing massive expansion. In Esperance port workers are resisting the federal government's attacks and insisting on a union collective agreement.

Carmen Lawrence, member for Fremantle, spoke of rejecting Costello's push for privatisation and keeping ports publicly owned. She also touched on the situation of guest workers coming to Australia and being treated like third class citizens. Carmen said Labor supported decent reform of our shipping industry and an end to Flag of Convenience ships taking work from Australian ships on our coast.

Once again Paddy Crumlin, MUA national secretary, delivered in every aspect. He outlined the need to keep a strong relationship with the state Labor government and to ensure that apprentices/trainees are included in all big developments. He also touched on the MUA policy against exports of uranium.

The input from officials of the CFMEU was outstanding. Kevin Reynolds, state secretary and Joe McDonald, assistant secretary, delivered tremendous speeches on their 107 members facing fines from $22,000 to $28,000 each just for taking industrial action over health and safety. The dangers of this explosive situation were driven home to everyone in the hall.

Joe Fleetwood, secretary of the Wellington branch of the Maritime Union of New Zealand said the issues facing Australian workers today were no different to New Zealand in 1991 or 1951 during the lockout when the government used anti-worker/fascist laws against waterside workers. These laws are still on the statutes and a frightening reminder to the union movement about how close we all are to massive damages.

Mick Doleman, MUA assistant national secretary, outlined the strategy for the upcoming federal election and the importance of campaigning in the marginal seats. He also stressed the need for all working members to encourage community support. We have to get the message out that Howard and Co are attacking everyone, not just the unions.

Willie Adams, ILWU secretary treasurer, emphasised the close relationship between our unions. He said the solidarity generated at conference was a great step towards a worldwide system of supporting each other in struggle. Willie stressed the need to help organise ports like Hong Kong, which employs some 18,000 non-union dockers.

Wilson Baldonaza, president Anglo KMU Philippines delivered one of the most heartrending speeches I have ever heard. The Philippines has 56 per cent unemployment and is best described as a US military base. The Government persecutes all sectors of the community. No one is immune from the cruelty imposed by the armed forces and the police. Some 705 of his colleagues, unionists, have disappeared.

The government offers no protection for the thousands of Filipino workers who travel overseas to seek work to feed their families; no protection from the evil agencies recruiting people on a lie of rich rewards awaiting them. And, of course, these slave masters all instruct workers when going to Australia, "under no circumstances contact a union."

Presently there are 15,000 Filipinos working in Australia on 457 visas and that figure is forecast to reach 300,000.

This speech was the catalyst for much debate. Unity and solidarity enveloped the whole room and every comrade stood to applaud Wilson, an extremely brave and resilient comrade.

Next a South African worker outlined his exploitation as a guest worker on a 457 visa. He told of the harshness of conditions and of the lies told to him at the job interview. He too was warned not to contact any Australian union. But he had vision and joined the AMWU, becoming active in the campaign to recruit other guest workers.

Ian Bray, assistant branch secretary, spoke on the federal government attempt to split the country racially. And Steve McCartney, AMWU, stressed the urgency to force every state Labor government to hold a royal commission into the rampant exploitation of overseas workers. Speakers from the floor called for protection of guest workers and the need to ensure that the stain of racism is not used as a weapon by politicians to divide the nation.

Keith McCorriston, deputy branch secretary, chaired a panel on the need to foster community solidarity and for unions to work together on the picket lines as we did during the Patrick lockout.

Bishop Wilmot of Perth criticised the federal government on the poverty being created and their appalling lack of compassion for people.

But no speaker was more popular than Tony Nelson, president of the Liverpool dockers. Once again we were reminded of the tragedy that befell these comrades who picketed for so long and were finally forced to call an end to their mighty struggle.

Tony recalled the broken promises from politicians and union leaders. He also noted the political similarities between Britain then and Australian now. He warned to plan very carefully, select your battles and only fight the ones you can win.

Among the conference films on union struggles, the one taken aboard the Stolt Australia filmed by MUA wharfie and filmmaker Viron Papadopoulos was a dramatic example of the pressure that unionists are being placed under while fighting to retain their jobs.

The success of their struggle emphasised the need to get the message out to all workers to persevere and unite against employers. To see the crew debating the issues facing them and voting to continue the fight was a great lesson in unionism. The resulting victory was there to see - great rank and file debate and great leadership won the day for the MUA.

Also pleasing was the banter between speakers with union officials confessing to past differences, while stressing they had learnt from their mistakes. They agreed that the unity and comradeship they experienced from this conference gave them the confidence that whatever the Howard Government would throw at them the union movement would survive.

Finally conference gave John Maitland, outgoing national president of the CFMEU, a terrific reception and a presentation on his retirement.

In all comrades, a scene of optimism. The input from the younger members, officials and rank and file representing ports all over Australia, their articulate and intelligent speeches, bodes well for a secure and healthy future for the maritime industry in Australia.

Ken McBride

Assistant Secretary

Southern Branch

MUA Veterans

Photos: Sean Rehill