MARITIME DIARY
By National Secretary Paddy Crumlin
Declaring war on terrorism is one thing. But what does that mean and how is the war won? Is it achieved partly by breaking the cycle of human degradation and suppression that nourishes these extreme actions, or is it achieved by further suppression and arrogant pronouncements based on ignorance and political positioning that creates more anger, hatred and dislocation. The great victories for peace have been brought about by careful, compassionate and diplomatic effort backed up by a strong commitment to social justice and human dignity -- something that Australians have proven to be particularly good at over the years. And something or someone bad has crept in and taken that away as well.
Bali Bombing
The bombing in Bali brought home to all Australians a reality which some of the world have lived with for generations. Where does brutality and madness to this degree come from? It is so far from the easy going and generous world of most Australians and our collective empathy and sympathy goes out to the victims and their families, some of whom were MUA members. I remember Bali as a place of big hollow waves and beautiful laid-back people. A place where you got high on living and special memories.
Now something bad has crept in and taken that away.
Anyone Home?
How do you declare a war on terrorism and also on your own domestic industry? Ask Transport Minister John Anderson. Even that good ol' boy George Junior knows you gotta take care of the home range, pardners, particularly when the injuns are circling. The Jones Act (cabotage) is stronger than ever, as is the US merchant navy. The US government has strong legislation requiring all overseas seafarers calling into the US to have proper seafarers identity documents that cannot be forged or got around. After all, both are essential if there is to be real national security operating.
Due partly to their currrent crisis, the US has been a frontrunner in its commitment to the ILO process on a new seafarers international convention, and were in Geneva in force again last week. They understand that having international instruments supporting domestic legislation is essential in the new global environment, for trade as well as security reasons.
And Mr Anderson? Well we don't know exactly because he won't say, but apparently it's different here for our border control measures. The Australian government missed Geneva again and I don't think it's because they particularly wanted me to put their position. It seems Australia can have full time overseas guest workers, without visas and outside tax and every other bloody law in this country as long as they get rid of our merchant navy. And a government that's too busy to attend the most important ILO process since its inception to get new universally enforceable standards on every aspect of seagoing employment, once and for all. It's a joke, but one without humour. How does that work Mr Anderson? As he told SBS Insight- maybe we better ask someone else. Hello? Anyone home?
Crisis in Capital
Capitalism is in a bit of a crisis, with the markets going up and down like a manic yo-yo, the US government going feral and our own local Texas Ranger John Howard declaring war on everyone except people who might conceivably vote for him. When capitalism is crook the workers are expected to take the medicine and forget about the thieves and scoundrels who have created the crisis by being allowed to rip us all off. Most of them are big supporters of governments and political parties that in turn feed them and feed off them as is clearly the case with Enron, HIH and World.Com.
When things start going bad the pollies find distractions to keep the heat off themselves. The media play their tune and never let the truth get in the way of making money out of a good story.
The ILWU lockout by the hungries of international and US shipowners is a prime example. They are clearly using the current crisis in the US to take on the union and bash a few dockworkers, and they are so arrogantly sure of their support in Washington and elsewhere that they locked their workforce out of the gate and refused every attempt to get them back in. They then used this vandalism of the US and Asian Pacific economies to attack and blame the longshore workers for the cost -- tens, if not hundreds, of billions of dollars damage.
A delegation of MUA members and officials flew over to give our mates a bit of a cheer up, and in doing so secured understandings about moving essentials from Australia. John Howard and a couple of his heavies then orchestrated the most spectacularly deceptive media campaigns of distortion against our union seen since 1998, based on the outright lie that the ILWU was on strike and we were egging them on. They've never forgiven us for exposing their dirty deeds during the Patrick dispute. But even more outrageous was the willingness of the media to run his lies without challenge and without voicing the facts. They knew them all right -- we told them.
It's great to see how the children overboard debacle has lifted journalistic ethics. It also reinforces the fact that Howard and others will do almost anything to harm the union.
Historic Council
National Council has endorsed a solid set of policies to take maritime workers and their families forward in extraordinary times. Financially we're sound, we are as active in every aspect of industrial and political life as at any time in our history, and in the face of an escalating attack against us we are united and determined to see it out. We're not on our own, the same attacks are being visited upon the CFMEU in the Royal Commission and against other effective unions or unionists.
We have also made an historic decision to strengthen our relationship with the Maritime Union of New Zealand, who face the same problems as us, with a bit better government. The Tasman Maritime Federation reflects the need to organise and campaign outside our workplace, just like the boss does, and it will greatly assist in protecting maritime unionists in both countries.
The three maritime unions in Australia are also working more closely as was demonstrated by the important full bench decision on CSL requiring them to apply the Maritime Industry Seagoing Award on the CSL Pacific.
Working hard, and sticking together, you can't
beat that.
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