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          Shipping Stevedoring Port Services Hydrocarbons Diving  May-Jun 2008 
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Port Kembla workers protest against IlukaBy Mark Armstrong Branch Secretary SNSW Branch
Report on the "Iluka" previously the Wallarah berthing at Port Kembla Grain Terminal on the 24th September, 2002
The normal Monthly Stop Work Meeting held on the last Tuesday of the month was reconvened down at the Grain Terminal at Port Kembla Harbour yesterday, 24th September, 2002 after Branch Secretary, Mark Armstrong advised the members that the former vessel the "Wallarah", now the "Iluka" was loading grain for New Zealand under the "single voyage permit system" operated by our Federal Government. It was moved by J McGartland and seconded by D Waddell and unanimously endorsed by the rank and file "that we continue the Stop Work Meeting at the Grain Terminal, Port Kembla Harbour". Branch Secretary, Mark Armstrong contacted the South Coast Labour Council Secretary, Arthur Rorris and requested assistance in this campaign as he felt it was a community campaign, one that represents a threat to the Australian Shipping Industry and deprives seafarers from our local region and Australia wide of the their jobs. Early this year the Wallarah was an Australian Coastal Ship, registered in Australia and manned by Australian Seafarers, one of the last of the "60 milers" who for 16 years carried coal between the mines at Catherine Hill Bay to Newcastle, and is now registered in Tonga, with an Australian skipper, Russian Officers, Australian Engineers and Tongan crew. Branch Secretary, Mark Armstrong stated that the "single voyage permit" and "continual voyage permit" system was a Federal Government policy supported by some shipping companies aimed at destroying the union. It is our members jobs now, but what's not to stop them bringing in foreign guest workers to drive our buses, teach our children, work our hospitals or work at the Port Kembla Grain Terminal. It was stated that the community of the Illawarra would not tolerate jobs disappearing overseas from under our noses, and this vessel is expected to visit Australian Ports regularly from now on and we will be ready the next time, it will be an all out community campaign against the "Iluka" and the system that is selling our Australian jobs. Arthur Rorris was contacting the Newcastle Trades Hall Secretary, Gary Kennedy to mount a two-city campaign against the "Iluka". During our Stop Work Meeting yesterday we had assistance from the local AWU worker by way of soft drinks, solidarity and support for our cause. The lack of training and understanding of these workers who are underpaid and supplied with poor working conditions was telling during the loading of this vessel yesterday. As members of the MUA gathered for our meeting, the "Iluka" suddenly listed about 28 to 30 degrees near causing catastrophic damaged to the wharf and possible fatal injuries to Grain Terminal employees and foreign crew members aboard the vessel and possible environmental damage.
For further information
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© 2001 Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) |
