AUT: LL: War on Wharfies 5 Feb update

[Takver <Takver@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The following daily summaries of news on the rightwing attack on the
Maritime Union of Australia are available with background info links,
and links to Australian Media at:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm

Latest News Summary - 5 February

     * The Maritime Union has subpoenaed Chris Corrigan, chairman of
       Patrick Stevedoring, to give evidence before Industrial Relations
       Commission meeting in Melbourne. He will be asked some penetrating
       questions about Patrick's involvement with training army troops in
       Dubai as waterfront strikebreakers, and the behaviour of his
       company.

     * Patrick's alledge the week long dispute has cost $350,000 so far,
       with seven ships diverted, and the loading of 800 cars held up.

     * At a meeting in Mildura, union members promised to exempt
       perishable produce. Already four containers of food have been
       allowed through the protesting wharfies. It seems small farmers
       and food producers have more to thank the wharfies for. A grower
       spokesperson said: "If by some chance the dispute did escalate,
       they gave us an undertaking that perishables would be given free
       passage through the wharves" (Source ABC)

     * ACTU president, Jennie George, joined the protest at Webb Dock
       today. She made statements that the dispute "has the potential to
       cause a national tragedy" and "could result in waterfront workers
       living under a dictatorship". "If they get away with this you may
       as well say you're living in a dictatorship not a democracy."
       (Source ABC)

     * The former SAS soldier accused by unions of running security at
       Webb Dock site, yesterday quit the army, after breaching
       regulations when he gave a security firm company name on his leave
       application which did not exist.

     * Prime Minister Howard backs Corrigan and dismissed the Dubai
       debacle with the the words "Everything else . . . is a sideshow
       and irrelevant." This is a cheap attempt to deflect attention from
       the role of the Government in causing this dispute.(Source The
       Age)

     * Public Rallies in support of the MUA are scheduled to be held in
       Sydney on Friday and Monday, and in Melbourne on Tuesday. See
       notices elsewhere on this page.

        Source for News: ABC News, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age

     ------------------------------------------------------------------

Latest News - 4 February

     * Patrick Stevedoring is applying to Industrial Relations Commission
       to intervene and settle the dispute.

     * The Maritime Union is considering its own legal action alleging
       the existing Enterprise Bargaining agreement has been broken by
       Patrick for leasing part of its operations to the National Farmers
       Federation as a market competitor.

     * Minister Reith raised the possibility of using the Australian
       National Line (ANL) ships at Webb Dock. The proposal seen as
       "blatant provocation" by the union.

     * Maritime Union proposal of a Maritime Industry Consultative
       Council rejected out of hand by the employers.

     * As a concession, Striking workers allowed containers of stranded
       produce to be picked up and delivered to Coles Myer.

     * State Liberal Government refuses to prosecute over the use of
       Government issue riot shields.

     * The National Secretary of the Maritime union, John Coombes, said
       of Mr Corrigan's admission of subterfuge in the Dubai incident:
       "He's blown his chance to be recognised as a credible person in
       the stevedoring industry and I don't have to go through it all
       again," he said. "But anyone who would participate in using
       defence force personnel to take the jobs of other Australians has
       got no future in this industry nor perhaps in any other that he
       did the same in."

        Source for News: ABC News, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The
            Australian.


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