Mailbag

Numbers Man

John White of Delta has certainly been a busy man managing those pesky Devonport workers.

The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce hosted a breakfast in November 2005 entitled "Work Choices legislation: how it will affect your business" presented by Mr White who brags in his biography that he "employs over 100 people".

Conveniently by March 2006 he employed only 98. Yes the ex TCCI President has done the numbers just in time.

Yours Sincerely

Cindy O'Connor

Union No: 9021125

Mass Walk Out

Combined Melbourne union delegates have endorsed a mass walk out for later in the year. More than 2000 delegates voted for mass action and then marched to Liberal headquarters in Russell Street Melbourne and burnt a copy of the Work Choices legislation.

We are at the crossroads and must unite the union movement and join forces to put the wrongs right.

All factional elements can be and must be drawn together with a common goal. This is our duty to the future of unionism.

The Coalition government is giving a free kick with the wind and down hill to the ruling class

Shaun Rehill

P&O Melbourne

Wonderful Tassie

During a tour of Tasmania we found ourselves unable to find hotel accommodation in Devonport due to popular sporting events.

After a few phone calls to Newcastle, we got the phone number of Bob Johnson from MUA veterans in Devonport and left a message regarding our distress. Bob's wife Lynne called us and made their home available. What a great lot of people!

Lynne took us to the events on the unions' day of action. We met Bob Manning along with MUA members at the union marquee where members were handing out leaflets on the IR campaign.

Lynne is president of Tasmania's midwives' association and teaches midwifery to both local nurses and nurses from abroad. She is also an amputee due to cancer of the leg. This has not in any way stopped her from raising money each year for this good cause, and Bob is there with her all the way.

On behalf of my wife and myself I would like to thank Bob and Lynne for their hospitality and Lynne's inspiration for showing us a positive side to life.

Brian Baker

MUA Veterans

Gladly Received

Our organisation would like to express sincere appreciation of a very generous donation by members of the dredge Pear River that was recently working in Port Adelaide.

As the contract had been completed and the crew disbursed, we were unable to thank them personally, but would like to assure them that their gift was gladly received and will be put to good use.

Last year we were able to assist one of our members who travelled with an MUA delegation to the Pacific Rim Conference in LA and any donations that ships' crew can afford are always welcome.

Barry Hounslow (Secretary)

Rex Munn (President)

Pt Adelaide MUA Veterans Association

Anzac Tribute

Anzac Day has again been and gone and the hell of World War II is 60 years behind us. I write to honour the memory of those whose unmarked tombstones are rusting hulks on the seabed, and as a tribute to those whose age now doth weary them as they wait to join the spirits of their shipmates who have 'crossed the bar'.

Former RSL President Bruce Ruxton wrote in the foreword of the book Looking Back by Captain Charles Shand that we would not have won World War 1 or WWII without the merchant navy.

The merchant navy delivered the fighting men, the implements, the medical staff and the sustenance of war to wherever it was needed.

Our ship carried deck cargo of bombers and pursuit planes so high that she resembled an aircraft carrier. General MacArthur, to whom most of the cargo was directed, called the ships of our line "Australia's Life Line".

The number of merchant navy ships lost in WWII was 5,150 and 50,111 merchant mariners died. Of these ships, 40 were Australian and other allied ships sunk by Japanese submarines, bombers and mines off the Australian coast, with the loss of 360 merchant seafarers lives. As well 5,000 merchant navy seaman became prisoners of war - including 72 taken aboard the Japanese cruiser Tone and beheaded.

If you were lucky enough to survive a sinking and being machine gunned, roasted by the sun or frozen in a lifeboat, your wages were stopped. Unlike members of the other services, merchant mariners paid tax and for all medical services and clothing. One sixth of our wages was deducted for meals.

The army, navy, and air force saved us from vile enemies and made Australia the best country in the world, but never forget the merchant men and women who are so rarely mentioned in the history of war.

Paul Savage

Box Hill,

Victoria

Safety Milestones

To all ships' staff, the ALSOC fleet recorded two years lost time injury (LTI)-free in December and one year total recordable case (TRC)-Free (ie no injury greater than a first aid case) in December.

Both achievements are all time records for ALSOC.

Crew also received a letter from the general manager of NWSSSC advising that the whole NWS fleet was LTI-free during 2005 -- another first.

All who have sailed on our ships in the past two years can be very proud of these results. Importantly no one has been injured during this time, which also shows that the goal of no injuries is achievable.

It is notable that during this time the number of incidents not relating to personnel has also reduced. Near miss and non-conformance reporting has markedly increased, there are much more open conversations on safety and we are not blaming individuals or groups when things go wrong.

Indeed we are more interested in what went wrong and how to make things better. I hope this culture will not only make the workplace safer but also more enjoyable.

It is also worth recognising that the crew have achieved all of this. It is not equipment, policy or some magic initiative. It is each individual taking care, being aware, and looking out for his or her self and their colleagues.

While we should not dwell too much on statistics, achieving these milestones gives us an opportunity to celebrate.

While I have been slow in communicating with you I have been very proudly telling the NWS Venture and others of your achievement. Woodside have also written congratulating and recognising your efforts.

After talking with crew about how we can celebrate these achievements, I propose that we join with World Vision and sponsor a child for each ship for a period of three years. This will involve the shipboard community in writing and receiving occasional letters to and from the children. I am sure they will be fascinated and amazed at what you do and the life you lead.

I have proposed to World Vision that we sponsor children from East Timor because you regularly steam past their home and there are strong links between Australia and East Timor.

I also propose to have an individual award, the details of which are still being finalised.

Please reflect on what each of you has done to achieve these milestones and keep up the good work.

Peter French

ALSOC

A BIG Thank You

This is a HUGE THANK YOU to the comrades on board the Cornelius Zaren, who donated from their Rolling Fund (and took the hat around as well) to give our grandson Isaiah Ryan a better chance in life.

Through their generosity Isaiah is able to have access to his therapist more often.

Isaiah is almost three years old now. He is a miracle child as he was born with only half of his heart. In his short life he has endured two major operations, many procedures and he suffered a stroke at only 18 months old.

But Isaiah is a determined little man and he will not be beaten. So we say thank you boys for including Isaiah in the MUA family. You are all so very kind.

Lorraine and Joe Ryan

Union Nos.4000375 & 7877