AUT: LL: War on the Wharfies 27 Feb update

[Takver <Takver@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

27 February - The following article and summary of news
for 26-27 Feb on the rightwing attack on the Maritime Union of
Australia  (New Website: http://mua.tcp.net.au/ ) are available
with background info, and links to Australian Media at:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm

Army versus Workers. Why aren't we talking about it?

The one feature of the wharf dispute that distinguishes it from
anything else in Australia's recent history is the blatant,
unashamed declaration by the government and big industry that they
are preparing the army (specifically the SAS) to move against
wharf workers in a direct physical conflict. Although it began as
a secret, since the scheme's exposure there has been a 'Well, so
what?' attitude by its perpetrators. They were not merely
desperate scab workers to be trained in Dubai - they are soldiers
in the Australian army.

At the recent union delegates' meeting at Dallas Brooks Hall, the
issue of the use of armed force by the State against workers was
not discussed. Why? It is the most serious aspect of the whole
dispute.

The unions' Fact Sheet No. 1 (3/2/98) - although informative and
useful - omits mention of the Army role. The threat is much more
serious than 'professional strike-breakers and a mini army
supplied with truncheons and riot shields' - bad enough as this
would be. The threat is guns - in the hands of professional
soldiers whose special training is not only military, but highly
political. These are soldiers who have no qualms about killing
workers - they believe it's necessary.

The SAS are enjoying sudden star-status in the media. TV
interviews play up their international 'achievements', they are
celled 'diggers' and are given official fond farewells as they
embark for the Gulf. It might not be coincidence that the SAS have
been rushed into international 'duty' just now. Their reputation
took a set-back after the Blackhawk crash, and the Government
would be hoping to establish a good image for them preparatory to
sending them in against workers.

How are we to deal with this? Most of us workers have no
experience of facing the army. The Hawke Government used the RAAF
to scab on pilots, but then the violence was implied rather than
direct. The issue of the use of armed force against the workers
should be brought into the open and discussed in pubs, street
meetings, on radio, the internet, in markets, shops, transport
stations, etc.

The MUA might gain breathing space by manipulating arbitration,
but the bosses own the courts too. Ultimately the MUA will need
thousands out in the streets and at the wharves. This can only
happen if people understand the issue. People do not respond in
numbers to last-minute pleas for help if the ground-work has not
been done. That must start now. The unions' arguments are strong:

Average wage $30,000 for a 35 hour week. High wages only result
from long compulsory overtime.

Webb Dock handles no rural produce, so who is the NFF looking
after?

Waterfront workforce reduced 50% in 10 years. Productivity related
more to technological investment than union policy.

All these things the public needs to know. But above all is the
blatant intention to use State armed force against organised
labour.

Surely all this is more than just an ideological push by Liberal
Party figures. Why do some union leaders repeatedly represent it
as such? The big bosses behind very big Capital must be very
desperate indeed to resort to use of the army. And we should be
finding out more about why they are so desperate. Increasing the
political awareness of the working people should be a major
priority for the unions, even if only for bread and butter; and
ultimately is essential if we want to change society to one in
which we don't need bosses.

Written by the followers of the Paris Communards. Melbourne,
February 1998.

This Page is available at:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/ms980224.htm

 News Summary - Friday 27 Feb
---------------------------------------------

Documents provided to the ACTU show lost productivity at Patricks
due to the layout of the Patrick terminal and increased crane
breakdowns because of the lack of a proper maintenance program.
The documents are correspondence and memos from former line
manager Alan Knight who resigned from Patrick about five weeks
ago.(Source: ABC)

Australian wharfies are collecting money to help pay the mortgages
and rent payments of stranded New Zealand crew in Sydney and
Melbourne. The two ships became stranded after a New Zealand
shipping company, owned by a German firm, went into liquidation 10
days ago.

Yet another example of the wharfies generosity and solidarity,
just as they raised $65,000 to assist drought stricken farmers
last year.

Other industrial news:

Jennie George, President of the ACTU, condemned the Government's
offer of a $8 wage rise for low paid workers, while supporting
increases of more than $100-per-week for high wage earners such as
judges. Ms George said "Reith is the most partisan minister that
we've had in this portfolio. I've not known one occasion when Mr
Reith has said or done anything of benefit to any ordinary people
despite any rhetoric about looking after all the battlers."
(Source: ABC)

Teachers unions across the country held protests and disrupted
classes, saying public school budgets have been cut by $20
million.

In Adelaide and Perth, two mock robberies were staged,
highlighting teacher anger at the $20 million taken from public
schools.

In Sydney, New South Wales Teachers Federation president Sue
Simpson said the Federal Government's new funding mechanism,
called the Enrolment Benchmark Adjustment, goes by market trends
rather than actual enrolment numbers.

Tasmanian public teachers say the new policy threatens the idea of
a quality, accessible education system.  In Victoria, public
school classes were disrupted, while in Queensland, teachers voted
to actively campaign against the changes.(Source: ABC)

The Government's decision to revamp the Commonwealth Employment
Service (CES) will severely disadvantage rural Australia. A new
jobs network is to be serviced by private companies, community
organisations and a new public provider, Employment National. ACTU
president, Jennie George, said "Because the profit motive is now
being introduced in the provision of these services, [people will
suffer] particularly those in regional and rural Australia who
need these services...[They] are not going to get the ready access
and it's not going to be long before you'll hear complaints from
consumers saying there is no-one in their particular country town
that they can turn to." (Source: ABC)

---------------------
Takver@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
War on the Wharfies Homepage:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm


 oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo
             LEFTLINK - Victoria's Broad Left Mailing List
                http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/
          Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop

        Publication of a message on this list does not indicate
   endorsement by either LEFTLINK or the New International Bookshop.
 oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo=oo











     --- from list aut-op-sy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ---