Published: 8 Oct 2020
Branch members at Flinders Ports mooring gang were proud to lend their solidarity to the MUA Sydney Branch campaign to stamp out non union operators in the mooring industry in Port Botany. A company with a Union Agreement shut down using COVID19 as an excuse, leaving a dozen MUA members unemployed. Almost the next 2 directors of that company started another lines company and bid for work substantially lower than established competitors and with a non union agreement and scab labour. The Sydney Branch led a militant campaign including picket lines, boats in the water and marching on Caltex the operator who engaged the scab outfit. The short but intense campaign, including a heavy police presence was successful. The Scab company contract was cancelled. The power of the union is in the collective and wharf services are easily contracted out. It is on that basis that vigilance and militancy in this space continues to protect Union jobs, pay and conditions.
