Published: 31 May 2010
Top level union meetings in Beijing as maritime workers endorse union's international agenda
MUA National Secretary and ITF Vice President for the Asia Pacific Paddy Crumlin returned from high-level union meetings in China with ACTU and ITUC President Sharan Burrow last week.
"It was a solidarity meeting," said Paddy Crumlin. "We talked to the Chinese unions about friendship, building relationships and mutual issues.
"The reception with union leaders in the Great Hall of the People - usually reserved for national leaders - is indicative of the respect the ACTU and Australian trade unions are held in China," he said.
Meetings were held with Wang Zhaoguo, Member of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Chair of The All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU).
President Wang represents the 230 million Chinese workers who are members of the ACFTU.
ACTU and ITUC president Sharan Burrow introduced Paddy Crumlin as leading "one of the smallest but one of the unions that sits at the most powerful heart of our movement.
"There is nothing of significance that we fight for or stand up for that the MUA isn't at the heart of,"she said. "And you know they probably started the fight back on rights at work with the great waterfront dispute that many of your colleagues supported as indeed did others throughout the Asia Pacific back in 1998."
Sharan Burrow said Chinese demand for Australian produce had helped us come through the economic crisis very well. "Europe," she said, "could have serious consequences in terms of global trade but during the first wave of economic shock the Chinese economy played a major role. That's why it's really important we do deepen the relationships."
The range of the conservation was from Australia China trade, regional and sub regional political and economic observations, particularly the Pacific region.
"Larger ACFTU and ACTU exchanges on the international geo politic and economic situation, problems with organising migrant workers from the provinces and multinational companies setting up business in China were also discussed as was the impact and ongoing ramifications of the Global Financial Crisis," said Paddy Crumlin.
"This flowed through to interesting exchanges on the role of government in pump priming economies particularly through infrastructure development and the consequential creation and maintenance of jobs," he said.
The unions also met with Chen Hao, Chairman of Shanghai Trade Union Council and Xu Zhenhuan, Vice Chairman and Member of the Secretariat, ACFTU.
Talks with Vice President Xu and leaders of the Chinese Seamen and Constructive Workers' Union also touched on the grounding of the Sheng Neng 1 on the Barrier Reef in April and the issue of criminalisation of seafarers involved in such incidents. Discussions also focused on the implementation of the new maritime labour convention, particularly for vessels trading between China and Australia.
Vice President Xu and Comrade Crumlin spoke of the long relationship between the KSU and the MUA and the importance of maintaining that in the interest of Australian and Chinese maritime workers.
"We presented a plaque commemorating this history," said Paddy Crumlin.
The plaque recognises "The courageous role Chinese seafarers stranded in Australia as a result of the outbreak of WWII played in the effort to defend Australia from attack and supply Australian troops operating in SE Asia, PNG and Pacific region.
The principled stand which those Chinese seafarers took in forming a strong and united trade union to defend their rights"
The SUA played a vital role in supporting the Chinese Seamen's Union, which became a branch of the SUA.
That friendship and solidarity marked a new chapter in
Australia trade union history and was instrumental in breaking down cultural barriers in the Australian trade union movement.
Both Australian and international union leaders also attended a seminar on trade union work in China and Australia as well as visiting the Assistance Centre for Needy Workers in Putuo District, Shanghai.
The China visit comes after monthly meetings of maritime workers endorsed the national council resolution motion highlighting the strategic importance of the union's role on the world stage as follows:
MUA INTERNATIONAL AGENDA
RESOLVED: National Council reaffirms its full support and commitment for the involvement of the National Secretary and MUA officers and delegates in carrying out the work of the MUA as discussed, resolved and endorsed by the National Council.
In reconfirming our commitment to the MUA leadership's ongoing international involvement, we take our union's role in that leadership in facilitating a reorganised and reinvigorated global trade union movement as a serious and ongoing policy commitment which requires the full support of the union inclusive of the nomination of National Secretary Paddy Crumlin in running for the presidency of the International Transport Federation. Comrade Crumlin is currently Vice President of the ITF, and the role of President is honorary. The MUA is one of the unions in the lead of restructuring the international trade union movement that is declining in numbers and effectiveness particularly in developed countries, and to meet the neo-conservative offensive that combined with the deregulation of international economic and financial markets has greatly enhanced the dominance of multi and trans national capital particularly in stevedoring and shipping industries.
National Council discussed the historical position of the union and its previous leaders in pursuing an international working class position in assisting to organise labour, and related human rights issues in a number of countries including Vietnam, South Africa and many others.
National Councillors determined to discuss and promote these issues so that our historical position is understood by the whole union membership and just as importantly that it is acknowledged that the international neo-liberal and conservative push to destroy the international working class movement is as determined today as it was 50 years ago, with the conditions more favourable to them than at any other point in history.
Moved M.Carr. Seconded K. Bracken
All resolutions arising from council were endorsed at national monthly meetings of members in April.
