Tackling Globalisation

Assistant National Secretary Mick Doleman reports on the struggle at home & abroad for workers' rights in the offshore industry

There's an old saying that if anything can go wrong, it will. And that was certainly the case leading up to the Offshore Delegates' Conference, Fremantle in October. Firstly, there was the terrible tragedy of the terrorist attacks in the United States which seriously hampered the ability to have international guests attend. And some of our delegates overseas were unable to get scheduled flights back in time (most notably Joe Deakin, who sent his apologies and best wishes for the outcome of the Conference).

Also, the collapse of Ansett put the well-prepared plans to the test. Again, there were a number of casualties in terms of people being unable to get to the conference. But even with that there was a good representation and, as most described it, an excellent conference.

Leading up to the negotiations for the 2002 Enterprise Agreements with the offshore operators, the Union considered it necessary to bring together elected rank and file delegates to not only discuss matters of importance around their future enterprise agreement but also policy issues and matters concerning the offshore oil and gas industry consistent with how we dealt with those issues in the last Offshore Delegates Conference back in 1996.

Another feature of this Conference was the importance of tackling globalisation and its influence on the union movement and, in particular, the offshore oil and gas industry. For this reason we were fortunate to have in attendance Norrie McVicar, the Chairman of the ITF Offshore Taskforce Committee (of which I am also a member and Vice Chairman), along with Dave Eckstein who is the field director for the Offshore Mariners' United who are organising in the Gulf of Mexico. Dave is also an organiser of the AFL/CIO (the ACTU equivalent). And, of course, it wouldn't be an Australian Maritime Union Conference without our New Zealand comrades and Mike Williams (Secretary of the New Zealand Seafarers' Union) present.

These international comrades gave an enormous lift to the Conference and put the importance of internationalism clearly on the agenda. Norrie McVicar reported on the ITF's campaign to strengthen the union movement's hand in dealing with global issues affecting workers in the offshore oil and gas industry around the world. Members of the MUA know all too well that the globalisation agenda includes labour market deregulation and benchmarking Australian seafarers working in the offshore oil and gas industry against the cheapest possible labour available within the region. This applies to workers in Australia generally.

Norrie said he would like to see an International Offshore Delegates Conference in the near future so that the rank and file of all maritime unions in the Offshore Taskforce could further strengthen their rank and file understanding of the importance of "thinking global - acting local".

Norrie also detailed the Offshore Taskforce activities in the United States and the sponsoring of Brian Bluey Roberts and his organising activities assisting the American unions in the Gulf of Mexico. He was glowing in his praise of Bluey's activities -- and this is a clear demonstration of international co-operation.

Dave Eckstein (AFL/CIO) addressed the Conference and gave graphic examples of the continued harassment of the union organisers in the Gulf of Mexico. This was witnessed by an international delegation from Australia including Joe Deakin,Ted Jackson and Mick Cottrell (Victorian Branch Secretary), along with representatives from the United Kingdom and Norway who were there on a fact-finding mission to further strengthen international solidarity. All of the international guests were horrified at having been questioned, bullied and harassed by State Police who, in their off-duty time, act as paid security guards legally entitled to use police equipment including guns and cars to enforce employer rule over protesting unionists.

Trico, a large boat operator in the Gulf of Mexico, has been the target of a campaign and this company in particular has suffered international condemnation because of its double standards in the treatment of their workers. It was reported to the meeting that in the North Sea, Norway and the United Kingdom, very good enterprise agreements and recognition of the union exists. And Brazilian unions also have union recognition and collective agreements for their workforce. However, in Trico's home base of Louisiana, the workers are denied the right to join unions and to enforce that employers have engaged union busters and intimidate the workers through propaganda including the establishment of an anti-union group called Concerned Citizens For the Community (CCFC).

Unions in Norway are now taking legal measures to exclude Trico from major contracts which require - under Norwegian law - that companies who participate in those contracts provide the opportunity for workers to associate with unions without intimidation.

The Brazilian Confederation of Maritime Aviation, Transport & Port Workers has just signed a pact with the United States maritime unions, pledging a campaign for the rights of workers in the US oil fields to belong to a union if they so desire - something Brazilians but not American workers have achieved. The solidarity pact now extends to South American unions representing workers from Argentina, Mexico and Chile.

Other companies also include Tidewater, which operates in Australia under good collective Agreements and recognition of the Union, yet denies the same opportunity to US mariners. The MUA will be sending a delegation to Tidewater in Perth to express our deep concerns about the parent company's behaviour in the US.

Mike Williams, Secretary of the Seafarers Union in New Zealand, reported on their very difficult years under the conservative government and how the Clarke government is under enormous pressure by conservative forces to resist any change. Mike also outlined the battles in the offshore industry where MUA officials and the rank and file have refused to vacate vessels before confirmation that New Zealand seafarers are to replace them when vessels are delivered.

On behalf of the delegates I said the MUA will do all in its power to ensure the workers of the world have an opportunity to organise collectively, work in safe environments and have good job security and conditions of employment.

The Conference was chaired by John Higgins, National Presiding Officer and Dean Summers. The delegates (being elected from their various vessels) had the task of going through all agenda items forwarded by the rank and file individually or as a result of meetings on board various ships. Every item put forward was read, considered, debated, discussed and determined for our next Enterprise Agreement. This will be documented and sent to all vessels, with a re-draft of the existing agreements.

unions@work

An issue that generated enthusiastic endorsement was the Union's approach to unions@work. Offshore, this would mean greater responsibility to the delegates once they had appropriate training. It also means supplying the delegates with the information they need quickly and electronically. Regular delegates meetings in various ports would keep them abreast of industry issues.

I will be responsible for ensuring that an Offshore Newsletter circulates amongst the membership and there is overwhelming support for the placement in our next Enterprise Agreement of the Delegates' Charter, enshrining their rights.

ROLLING FUNDS

Rolling Funds that are subscribed to by the members on each vessel funded the conference, but there was debate about those refusing to contribute. .

Delegates endorsed the importance of the Rolling Funds in providing valuable resources for the defence of the Union, to assist distressed members and other worthy causes.

TRAINING

Wal Pritchard, WA Branch Deputy Secretary, who has been working with the employers and training institutions over the last three years, gave a comprehensive report on training which included training for ABs and greasers to IR, training from deckhand to IR and skills enhancement in anchor handling, tug support (AHTS) and catering training that would also include elements of STCW95.

Drug & Alcohol Policy

With increasing community concerns about major oil spills and loss of life associated with human error and with human error affected by the use of drugs and alcohol, major oil companies worldwide have made employment of seafarers contingent upon a drug and alcohol regime that includes testing for cause (ie when there is an accident or injury), or randomly to ensure that industry policies are being adhered to.

Through WA Assistant Secretary Dean Summers intervention we have a policy that includes non-discrimination, is completely random and all outcomes appealable. Work that also has to be recognised is the rank and file participation in this which included Tony Eglington (marine cook, Melbourne) and Dean Willis (IR, WA).

Resolutions

Resolutions were also carried congratulating the ITF on its work with the Offshore Taskforce, the American trade unions in their struggle against the offshore operators' anti-union activities, continued solidarity with our New Zealand comrades and requesting that the ITF give consideration to an international rank and file delegates conference at a time suitable to the ITF.

Thanks must go to the WA branch and to the delegates themselves who without exception, proudly represented those vessels and members who elected them.