Maritime Diary

By Paddy Crumlin, National Secretary

UNION support for East Timorese Transport and Maritime Workers seems to be getting to some of the paternalistic forces still trying to shape the country to their own ends. Rank and file member "Timor" Mick Killick was arrested by United Nations coppers and apparently given a bit of a belting for the crime of standing on a peaceful picket line at Dili airport against a particularly disreputable Australian-owned airline.

Behind bars

The picket line was organised by the newly formed East Timorese Labor Council and also the recently formed Maritime and Transport Workers Union.

Mick has been up there as part of an ITF/MUA joint project to assist the working men and women of this new republic get their fair share. It's been a long haul for Mick, living out of a container until we got him some proper digs. He has continued to work virtually non-stop for nearly 18 months. He contracted malaria, was caught up in the middle of Dili during the riots and now has been locked up in a nick that a few years ago, under a different regime, was probably a one-way ticket for most dissidents. Inmates of his cell had previously articulated their protest in graffiti covering the cell walls. It was written in the only material available to them -- their own excrement. Must have been a long few days for Mick.

Through an international effort involving the top level of the world trade union movement, the ITF and the ACTU, the Union secured sufficient pressure on the UN to get him released. Mick was the only person arrested on a picket line that had the full support and endorsement of the East Timorese trade union movement. The arrest only further galvanised support within the East Timorese government against these outrageous actions.

Go Mick, the man they couldn't root, shoot or electrocute. Go the East Timor working class.

Sell out

THE Carr Labor Government has unilaterally decided to sell off another whack of Sydney Harbour to the white shoe brigade of real estate developers. Sydney is by far the best natural harbour in the world for shipping and has been central to Australia's economic development through uninterrupted trade over a couple of centuries. It is essential to Australia's largest city. So doesn't it make great sense to ensure that it is a city where no ships can trade to! Bob Carr's big vision for NSW and Australia! It looks like he's selling off the farm to cover his government's inability to run it. If this is what NSW Labor stands for, they're not on our bus. Every time there have been attempts to further develop the Port of Botany for stevedoring, they have been blocked by opposition from both Local Councils and environmental groups.

The Union of course supports further development of the Ports of both Newcastle and Port Kembla, but not on the basis of shutting down the Port of Sydney. The Labor Government has got enough to do to combat the Howard Government's agenda in destroying our health and education systems, without smart-arse plans to raise a few bob like this.

Wake up, Bob Carr - you look like a government that's been too long in the job.

Govt. court out

The High Court found for us, 7 - zip, that the carriage of cargo between Australian ports should be subject to Australian industrial law and standards. The unanimous decision is extraordinary in itself. Under normal circumstances I don't reckon they could find 7 - nil in favour of whether the sun rises in the East under their current political make up. This victory has been carved out of the granite of Federal Government opposition to Australian shipping by the maritime unions and particularly by our rank and file seafarers like those who made the stand on the CSL Yarra. This is an historic victory but takes us only part way down the channel. The Industrial Relations Commission declined to then rope the CSL vessels into the Maritime Industry Seagoing Award. This in itself demonstrates the damaged and ineffective nature of the Commission under the Workplace Relations Act and its subsequent inability to dispense industrial common sense and balance, much less justice. The reasons given not to rope in the ships were contradictory and inconsistent, in my view, so we're back up there to see that justice is eventually delivered.

Lest we forget

BHP Billiton have sold their Australian self-discharger the Iron Chieftain to CSL, with a contract to carry Australian cargoes in and out of One Steel's Whyalla operation. One Steel is now a separate company to BHP. What can you say about the so-called Big Australian? At World Maritime Day last week in Sydney, wreaths were being laid at the Two Anchors Monument of Remembrance including one for the crew who died when the original Iron Chieftain was torpedoed off Sydney Heads during the Second World War. Lest we forget.

BHP should grow up to its responsibilities to those seafarers and CSL should wake up to them as well, or get out of the joint for good.

Progressive agenda

The new National Council unanimously endorsed the recommended program for our Union and its members to go forward in a progressive and militant direction. The democracy of the Quadrennial Election has again shaped a strong organisational resource to promote and defend the interests and rights of all maritime workers and their families. Our rank and file Conference in March next year will further shape policies so that we can meet successfully the threats and challenges to workers, not only in this country but in a world increasingly dominated by multi-national greed and corporate dominance. Full rank and file membership involvement is essential if we are to succeed with determination, strength and unity.

For a small union, the hits on us politically, industrially and legally are massive and continue to gain momentum. But when the going gets tough, the tough get going. No room for shirkers.

Loyalty & commitment

Tony Ashton has retired as secretary of the Seafarers Retirement Fund after 22 years of service to members. That sort of loyalty and commitment has kept our super funds at the forefront of performance in the superannuation industry over many decades. SERF, as well, has been greatly advantaged by similar commitments by people like Fund Secretary Terry Newson, who by the way isn't going anywhere just yet. Tony has been replaced by Glenn Davis who is well known and respected for his contribution to the SRF by its many members. Glenn has assisted Tony for the last five or six years and has been intricately involved in all of the decision making, including attending board meetings during that time. I know all SRF members appreciate Tony and wife Pam's work on our behalf and offer them our best wishes for the next stage of their lives.