Letters

Delos

Mighty Delos

Captain John Prickett organised a small celebration for this swing's last voyage on the Delos during the trip from Malaysia to Kwinana, in appreciation for efforts put in by all.

It was only June last year that we saw the delivery of the Delos to the Australian pickup crew. The crew level of the vessel was 17. The Korean built 37,432 ton deadweight product and chemical tanker was intended by the Australian Government to replace the Navy's ageing fleet oiler - the HMAS Westralia.

Meanwhile, it's been managed and operated by Teekay Australia Limited before being handed back to the Navy at Henderson, WA on September 1.

Apart from four days required by Navy contractors to measure her up, the Delos was never off charter. This was a credit to both Teekay and the crew who stayed to ensure the Delos was a success for the Australian maritime industry.

MIDC principles were very much in operation here. This allowed the development of a united teamwork approach and a commitment to ensure the Delos' successful operation.

The tremendous effort by those who manned the Delos to the end, from first time IR's up to the masters, may have played some small part in Teekay obtaining the contract to provide and crew the shuttle tanker (Basker Spirit) for Anzon Australia's Basker Field project. Teekay also won the contract to provide MUA crew for the FPSO Crystal Ocean which will supply the Basker Spirit with stabilised crude.

The next swing, after their Kwinana - Port Hedland - Singapore - Darwin - Dampier voyage, prepared the vessel for handover in Henderson. They also bid farewell to the Delos. After a 10 month conversion the ship will be renamed the HMAS Sirius. Once the Sirius is commissioned, Teekay Australia will again crew the vessel for a short period to iron out any bugs and assist the Navy in manning and operating their new vessel. The Navy intends a complement of 60 personnel once fully operational.

Due to the success of the Delos, we're hoping that Teekay Australia actively pursue the introduction of an Australian crewed product tanker to operate in Australian / overseas trade.

In the future we look forward to the crewing of the Basker Spirit.

All concerned can farewell the vessel knowing the part that they played in keeping the Australian maritime Industry on course for the duration of the Delos venture.

On behalf of M.U.A. members, M.T. Delos.

Peter Esser.

Delegate

Union No: - 3110

Red Alert

Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, people have become familiar with governments raising and lowering threat levels. In the US, for example, the threat levels are colour-coded. A "low" level of threat is green, an "elevated" level is yellow, and "severe" -- meaning an immediate threat of attack -- is red.

It's tempting to apply the concept to workers' rights as well.

Following the re-election of the right-wing Howard Government and its capture of both houses of parliament, we should be speaking of a threat level of "severe". Australian unions are deeply worried that the government is embarking on an attack on workers' rights which is unprecedented in its ferocity.

Spread the word: the threat level to workers rights in Australia has been raised to "severe".

Eric Lee

LaborStart

UK

Abhorrence

We the undersigned marine crew aboard the floating production storage and offtake facility Jabiru Venture in the Timor Sea wish to register our utmost abhorrence at the Howard Government proposed industrial relations bill.

As members of organised labour to be denied the right to collectively bargain is tantamount to slavery at its most extreme. your IR bill will only divided society more into those who have and those who will be denied the right to advance themselves.

While your tunnel vision is concentrated on taking more away from struggling working families, CEOs around the country have got there noses deeper into the trough year upon year.

No more Mr Howard. Show compassion to the Aussie battler.

Pat Harcus

on behalf of crew

Jabiru Venture

New Under class

Simpler, fairer and more flexible workplace agreements. This is what Howard's newspaper ads say.

Well, how much further do the Government and employers want to go? Nearly nine out of 10 jobs created in the past 10 years of almost uninterrupted growth paid less than $26,000 a year, and half of these jobs paid less than $15,000.

All that government and business want is a continuous pool of 'working poor'.

Many of the people employed today as casuals cannot afford the day-to-day cost of living. Eventually this will create a section of the community that becomes economically inactive.

How can this be of any benefit to society?

Greg Doughty

TT Line

(first published in the Hobart Mercury)

Extra Mile

A message of thanks to Joanne White and all of the Maritime Union of Australia members for your kind words and beautiful flowers that were given to us at Mining and Maritime Unions Seminar in Long Beach, California. We feel honoured to have been mentioned in your newspaper (we feel like celebrities). However, we are always ready and willing to do our part and go the "extra mile" without reservation. When people treat others with dignity and respect, as you all have demonstrated to us, it feels great to do our part in return.

Respectfully and in solidarity,

Diana Gomez & Christine P Mayer

Administrative Secretary

ILWU Coast Labor Relations Committee