Published: 11 May 2010
Paddy Crumlin, MUA national secretary and chair ITF dockers section calls for govt regulation and safety standards nationally and internationally to stem the deaths of workers on the docks
A meeting of rank and file delegates from bulk and general wharves nationwide in Melbourne today highlights the lack of safety, training as well as management bullying and harrasment issues behind the spate of deaths and injury on the nations docks.
National Secretary Paddy Crumlin opened the conference with a call for training, government regulation and safety code nationally and internationally to make the job safe.
MUA national officers Warren Smith and Ian Bray called for an end of management standover and bullying of safety delegates which they said was behind unsafe workplaces and fatalities.
International guests Rarua Ovia, PNG MTWU and Ray Fife, MUNZ related recent work deaths and near deaths in the region.
The three day conference of 100 MUA officials and waterside worker delegates this week will also cover organising in the workplace strategies, an overview on the safety on the waterfront campaign for national waterfront safety regulation, legal advice on unfair dismissal, unlawful dismissal and workers compensation dismissal, superannuation, drug and alcohol policy, campaigning, sexual harassment and the work of MUA veterans.
