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          Shipping Stevedoring Port Services Hydrocarbons Diving  Jul-Aug 2008 
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OFFSHORE UNIONS - DARWIN SEMINARUnions from Australia and East Timor Meet21 August 2002By Mick Doleman - Assistant National Secretary
The Northern Territory Trades & Labour Council (NTTLC) organized a seminar in Darwin on the weekend of the 17th August with Unions whose members operate in the offshore and gas industry attending, such as the AMOU, CFMEU, AWU, CEPU, the Maritime Unions and the Australian Council of Trade Unions, to name a few. The East Timorese Unions were also represented by the KSTL with President Zitu da Costa leading the delegation. The NTTLC Senior Vice President Didge McDonald opened the Conference welcoming the guests from around Australia and East Timor and described to the meeting the strategic importance of a strong union movement in the Northern Territory, particularly in Darwin, as the resource employment opportunities grow both inside and out of the joint petroleum development area. ACTU President Sharan Burrow spoke of the need for developing trade union alliances and the particular importance of the solidarity campaigns achieved through our international affiliates. Sharan spoke on the visits to East Timor and the need for training opportunities that will ultimately lead to employment for the East Timorese as vital to the development of the New Nation, and in particular, exploiting their opportunities through employment within the oil industry sector. Sharan went on to indicate that the Australian Trade Movement stands ready to assist the East Timorese in this pursuit. Assistant National Secretary Mick Doleman was the other keynote speaker dealing with issues for the offshore industry. Comrade Doleman described the history and development of the original Timor Gap Treaty between Australia and Indonesia that in itself provides the essential ingredients for what should be the arrangements between Australia and East Timor. It must include employment opportunities reserved for the treaty nations equivalent to their share of the particular oil field. This was the experience in the Timor Gap where employment was shared 50-50 between Australia and Indonesia. This experience was generally successful. Comrade Doleman described how Phillips, the operator of the Bayu Undan oil field have deliberately gone about excluding Australian trade unions and offering token employment opportunities for East Timorese workers. The Australian Trade Union Movement and in particular those associated with the oil industry must work hard to help strengthen the organizational capacity of the East Timorese unions to assist themselves to fight for their rightful place within their new industry. The Seminar was also addressed by the East Timorese delegates who were grateful for the assistance afforded to them by the Australian Unions and spoke glowingly of the involvement of the Maritime Union particularly the reason for the sponsoring of Mick Kilick who is living and working in East Timor lending assistance to the East Timorese Unions. The Seminar endorse the delivery of gas from the Sunrise field to Darwin rather than the joint venture partners plans of having and Floating Liquid Natural Gas (FLNG) plant at sea with no gas available for domestic use. The Federal Governments position is a hands off approach, this dose nothing for the national interest. It wasn't lost on anyone that Woodside pleaded national interest when Shells take over bid was on now they conveniently suggest its in their best interest to export all the resource overseas. The Seminar concluded with a program of activity that will secure the support from all Unions and the ACTU including the Northern Territory Trade & Labour Council and deliver strong and effective trade unionism in the Territory, East Timor and the offshore and gas industry. All parties agreed it was a very successful seminar.
For further information
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