LabourNet Report by Mark Taylor
The Australian conservative Federal Government is determined to use the new Industrial Relations Laws to undermine union organisation on Australia's wharves. They have tried to break the power of the wharfies union, the Maritime Union of Australia, by encouraging new stevedoring companies to enter the market using non-union labour. The first test of the Government's resolve and union strength was in the north Queensland port of Cairns.
An American-owned company, International Shipping sacked 30 MUA members and engaged non-union labour to unload the Java Sea, bringing supplies for the US-owned Freeport Mine in Irian Jaya (Indonesian New Guinea). The Federal Government Industrial Relations Minister, Peter Rieth, admitted his staff had been in touch with International Shipping.
On Tuesday 16 September the sacked MUA members set up a picket line outside the gate of the Port of Cairns supported by MUA members from other parts of Australia. Over the next two days some trucks were turned back but the picket was mainly conducted peacefully. On Friday 18 September, when the Java Sea was due in Port, MUA officials contacted the International Transportworkers Federation for support who in turn contacted the crew of the Java Sea. The crew refused to bring the ship in unless the sacked wharfies were reinstated. The company gave in and agreed to reinstate the wharfies. On the evening of the 18th the MUA claimed victory and stood down the picket line.
The following day the Java Sea entered Cairns and was unloaded by union labour - a victory for international solidarity and global union action.
For more information contact the Maritime Union of Australia, 471 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, 4000, 07 3831 0177
