Offshore Delegates Conference

By Mick Doleman
Assistant National Secretary

There's an old saying that if anything can go wrong, it will and that was certainly the case leading up to the preparation of the Offshore Delegates Conference.

Scheduled flights back in time (most notably Joe Deakin, who sent his apologies and best wishes for the outcome of the Conference.

MUA and International guest gather together after a successful Offshore Delegates conference.

Also, the collapse of Ansett put the well-prepared plans to the test and, again, there were a number of casualties in terms of people being able to get to the Conference. But even with that there was a good representation as, most described it, an excellent Conference in its conclusions.

Leading up to the negotiations for the 2002 Enterprise Agreements with the offshore operators, the Union considered it necessary to bring together elected rank and file delegates to not only discuss matters of importance around their future Enterprise Agreement but also policy issues and matters concerning the offshore oil and gas industry consistent with how we dealt with those issues in the last Offshore Delegates Conference back in 1996.

However, an additional feature of this Conference was the importance of tackling globalisation and its influences on the union movement and, in particular in our sector, the offshore oil and gas industry. For that reason we were fortunate enough to have in attendance Norrie McVicar, the Chairman of the ITF Offshore Taskforce Committee (of which I am also a member and Vice Chairman). Along with him was Dave Eckstein who is the Field Director for the Offshore Mariners United (OMU) who are organising in the Gulf of Mexico. Dave is an Organiser of the AFL/CIO (the ACTU equivalent). And, of course, it wouldn't be an Australian Maritime Union Conference without our New Zealand comrades and Mike Williams (Secretary of the New Zealand Seafarers' Union) was also present.

These international comrades gave an enormous lift to the Conference and put the importance of internationalism clearly on the agenda of the delegates at the Conference. Norrie McVicar reported on the ITF's campaign to strengthen the union movement's hand in dealing with global issues affecting workers in the offshore oil and gas industry around the world. Members of the MUA know all too well that the globalisation agenda includes labour market deregulation and benchmarking Australian seafarers working in the offshore oil and gas industry against the cheapest possible labour available within the region. This applies to workers in Australia generally.

Norrie went on to indicate that he would like to see in the near future an International Offshore Delegates Conference so that the rank and file of the respective participating maritime unions in the Offshore Taskforce could further strengthen their rank and file understanding of the importance of "thinking global" but "acting local".

Norrie also identified the Offshore Taskforce activities in the United States and the sponsoring of Brian "Bluey" Roberts and his organising activities assisting the American unions in the Gulf of Mexico. Norrie was glowing in his praise of Bluey's activities - and this is a clear demonstration of international co-operation.

Dave Eckstein (AFL/CIO) addressed the Conference and gave graphic examples of the continued harassment of the union organisers in the Gulf of Mexico. This was witnessed by an international delegation from Australia including Joe Deakin and Ted Jackson, and Mick Cottrell (the Victorian Branch Secretary), along with representatives from the United Kingdom and Norway who were there on a fact-finding mission to further strengthen international solidarity. All of the international guests were horrified at having been questioned, bullied and harassed by State Police who, in their off-duty time, act as paid security guards legally entitled to use police equipment including their guns and cars to enforce employers' rule over protesting unionists, disguised as "security".

On one occasion the whole delegation, being ferried around the ports of Houma in the Louisiana area, were blocked from both forward and reverse movement by these police acting on behalf of the boat operators in the Gulf of Mexico.

Trico, a large boat operator in the Gulf of Mexico, has been the target of a spear-headed campaign and this company in particular has had the attention of international condemnation because of their double standards in the treatment of their workers. It was reported to the meeting that in the North Sea and both Norway and the United Kingdom, very good enterprise agreements and recognition of the union exists. And again, in Brazil, the Brazilian unions have union recognition and collective agreements for their workforce. However in their home base of Louisiana, the workers are denied the right of joining unions and to enforce their view, the employers have engaged union busters and intimidating the workers through propaganda including the establishment of an anti-union group called "Concerned Citizens For the Community" (CCFC).

The unions in Norway are now taking legal measures to exclude Trico from major contracts that require (under Norwegian law) the companies who participate in those contracts, providing the opportunity for workers to associate with unions without intimidation (something Trico is certainly not capable of doing). The Brazilian Confederation of Maritime Aviation, Transport & Port Workers has just signed a pact with the United States maritime unions, pledging a campaign for the rights of workers in the United States oil fields to belong to a union if they so desire - somethin the Brazilian workers have achieved with the American company Trico who refuse to allow the American workers to join a union of their choice. The solidarity pact now extends in South America to unions representing workers from Argentina, Mexico and Chile. Other companies also include Tidewater, who operate in Australia as we know under good collective Agreements and recognition of the Union, yet deny the same opportunity to US mariners. The Union will be seeking to send a delegation to Tidewater in Perth to express our deep concerns about the parent company's behaviour in the United States.

Dave also concluded his contributions in calling for strong relationships between our unions in the offshore oil and gas industry in both countries, and put on the record his deep thanks and friendship that he has developed with Brian Roberts and the great effort he has put into the campaign in the Gulf of Mexico.

Mike Williams, Secretary of the Seafarers Union in New Zealand, extended greetings from his Executive and membership and reported on the very difficult number of years they have had under the Conservative government and how the Clarke government in New Zealand is under enormous pressure by the Conservative forces who do not want any change to their unquestionable authority. The media is attacking the government daily, yet there are considerable movements (yet to be concrete) towards the re-establishment of favourable environment for shipping in New Zealand. Every stage of this argument will be fought hard by the shippers and Conservative forces. Mike also went on to indicate the battles that have taken place in the offshore and through the assistance of the MUA that we have seen materialise both at the officials level and also at the rank and file level who on some occasions have refused to vacate vessels until it is confirmed that New Zealand seafaring members are to replace them when vessels are delivered for work in the New Zealand offshore. Mike re-affirmed our long-held relationship and reported on the amalgamation process currently under way between themselves and the waterside workers, and on completion of that would look forward to a stronger and more formal relationship with the Maritime Union of Australia.

On behalf of the delegates in attendance, I responded to the international comrades' contributions and indicated that the international activities of the MUA are well known and they will continue, and that the Union will do all in its power to ensure the workers of the world have an opportunity to organise collectively, work in safe environments and have job security and conditions of employment appropriate to their tasks, and that our relationship always be strong and we look forward to the conclusion of the NZSU amalgamation which will complement stronger relationships at all levels and the best interests of our membership across the Tasman.

The delegates also had the opportunity to receive a visit from Carol Martin, the Member for Kimberley who won her seat in the State election against all odds. Carol Martin is the first Aboriginal woman to be elected in any of Australia's Parliaments, and indicated her keen support and solidarity with the MUA and in particular wanted it placed on the record her thanks for the tireless effort of Dean Summers and the rank and file members in the region played in her successful campaign. In closing, Carol indicated that she will never forget that workers and MUA members got her over the line and she will always be there to serve their interest as best she can.

The Conference settled into the domestic issues and were chaired by John Higgins, National Presiding Officer and Dean Summers. The delegates (being elected from their various vessels) had the task to go through all Agenda items forwarded by the rank and file individually or as a result of meetings on board various ships. The Agenda items were broken up into various headings and every item put forward was read, considered, debated, discussed and determined in regard to forming part of our discussions with the employers for our next Enterprise Agreement, and policy consideration for the MUA offshore members. The final conclusions of the issues of agreement will be documented and sent to all vessels, and there will also be a re-draft of the existing Enterprise Agreements that will include those items in the new text. These will be identified in bold italics for the members on board various rig tenders to identify the differences that reflect the considerations of the Conference.

UNIONS@WORK

An issue that generated considerable discussion and, I believe, received enthusiastic endorsement was the Union's approach to the subject matter of Unions@work. Put simply, in the offshore, this would mean a greater involvement of responsibility to the delegates giving those delegates appropriate training to ensure that they can deal with the matters in the current industrial relations environment, supply the delegates with the information that they need quickly and electronically in many cases through our newly designed website and, importantly, regular delegates' meetings in various ports to continually keep the delegates abreast of issues occurring in their industry. This would also be an opportunity for continued training and honing skills already gained under the program.

I will be responsible for ensuring that an Offshore Newsletter is forwarded when there is appropriate information to be circulated amongst the membership and there is overwhelming support for the placement in our next Enterprise Agreement of the Delegates' Charter, basically identifying the rights of the delegate, recognition of the delegate by the employer and suitable opportunities for the delegate to be able to access communications and time to undertake his or her delegate duties, all about recognition and protection of the delegate's rights.

ROLLING FUNDS

The Offshore Conference was funded not out of the general revenue of the Maritime Union but by the Rolling Funds that are subscribed to by the members on each vessel. The issue of the Rolling Funds took up a considerable degree of debate, with a lot centring around the issue of those refusing to contribute to Rolling Funds. At one stage, one such report included a member who nominated to attend the Conference while refusing to pay into the Rolling Fund himself. This would have been totally unacceptable as the Conference was funded by Rolling Funds.

Delegates at the Conference further endorsed the importance of the Rolling Funds in providing valuable resources for the defence of the Union to finance campaigns around particular issues in the offshore or elsewhere, to assist distressed members and other worthy causes so designated by the crew of that vessel. However, the general view was that the current struggle that the Union is embarking upon both politically and legally, the Rolling Funds require considerable attention. The Union intends to write to all vessels (again), identifying the historical background and importance of Rolling Funds.

POLITICAL

The Conference also recognised the importance of turning this anti-union, anti-working class Coalition government out of office at the forthcoming elections and have called on the National Council to give serious consideration to a levy to fund our campaign to do just that., and called on all members to activate themselves to this pursuit.

TRAINING

Wal Pritchard, WA Branch Deputy Secretary, who has been working with the employers and training institutions over the last 3 years on the issue of training, gave an intensive and comprehensive report on training which included training for ABs and greasers to IR, training from deckhand to IR and skills enhancement in anchor handling, tug support (AHTS), catering training that would also include elements of STCW95. This report was endorsed and further developments will ensue.

DRUG & ALCOHOL POLICY

With the increasing community expectations and concerns about major oil spills and loss of life associated with human error and with human error affected by the use of drugs and alcohol, major oil companies worldwide have made employment of seafarers contingent upon a drug and alcohol regime that includes testing for cause (ie when there is an accident or injury), or randomly to ensure that industry policies are being adhered to. The union, through WA Assistant Secretary Dean Summers, gave a report to the Conference identifying the changes that have come about as a result of the Union's intervention in the companies' intended position to introduce drug and alcohol policies. Dean Summers' intervention has resulted in a policy that includes non-discrimination, is completely random and all outcomes appealable. In addition to this, he has secured agreement for education of the membership on their responsibilities, as well as the employers in any future regime. Work that also has to be recognised is the rank and file participation in this which included Tony Eglington (marine cook, Melbourne) and Dean Willis (IR, WA).

Further meetings are scheduled to conclude implementation and some outstanding minor matters but the report and the realisation of the environment we live in was greeted with great maturity by the offshore delegates and endorsed unanimously.

RESOLUTIONS

Resolutions were also carried congratulating the ITF on its work with the Offshore Taskforce, the American trade unions in their struggle against the offshore operators' anti-union activities, continued solidarity with our New Zealand comrades and requesting that the ITF give consideration to an international rank and file delegates conference at a time suitable to the ITF.

CLOSING REMARKS

I will shortly be writing to all vessels which will also include a request for delegate contact numbers both at home and on the vessel, and a contact person in addition to the delegate so that information of events and correspondence can be forwarded in a timely manner to both seafarers at home who are returning to the vessel and those that are actually at sea. This will be kept on a database in the National Office and managed and organised by my secretary Stephanie Szegda. Wally Pritchard, Dean Summers and myself will all have copies to facilitate part of our Unions@work. Included in this will be a request for offshore members' email addresses so that information can circulate quickly.

In general it was, in my opinion, one of the most enthusiastic conclusions to a conference I have attended for many years, with a clear plan of activity and direction in which we wish to proceed and comments by all parties, officials and members to re-invigorate our activity in the offshore oil and gas industry.

Thanks have to go to the Western Australian Branch for the enormous contribution they made in pulling the conference together in difficult times (and that includes the Officials and staff) and we would also like to thank the Credit Union who attended and identified the benefits of the Maritime Workers Credit Union - your Credit Union.

And finally, thanks to the delegates themselves without contradiction, proudly represented those vessels and members who elected them.

For further information

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