Security Concerns

MUA ensures war against terrorism is not subverted into a war against workers

The union has prevented a move by the Darwin Port Authority to demand police checks on port workers. Instead, union opposition to authorities turning the war on terrorism to yet another war on workers resulted in agreement that the port adopt the stevedores 100 point plan for ID - the same requirements for all Australian citizens getting a passport or opening a bank account.

"Police security checks are out," said Assistant National Secretary Rick Newlyn. "The union has rejected any attempt at this outright. In the US unions haven't been so lucky. Around 300 longshore workers and seafarers have lost their jobs."

Meanwhile the Maritime Union has won agreement from the Labor Party to set up a national register of all maritime workers if elected, arguing that casual and contract labour is a greater security risk than a permanent registered workforce. Labor has also agreed to restrict foreign ship access to the Australian trade (see page 20).

The union is also lobbying to prevent the government permitting foreign flag vessels to carry potentially explosive cargoes like fertiliser on our coastal trade. "These could become weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the wrong people," said ITF Australia co-ordinator Dean Summers.

Recent revelations of US atrocities in Iraq coupled with Australia's ongoing brown nosing of the Bush regime come as ASIO has notified national office that some ports have been classified a medium security risk.

National office has called on all branches to ensure union representation on port security committees and report back to national office on security issues as the July 1 deadline for implementation of the Maritime Security Act for ship and port security looms.

The MUA won recognition from the Federal Government as "key stakeholders in maritime security" in a letter from Transport Minister John Anderson, last November.

"Locally unions can be involved as employee representatives during the security planning and implementation processes and this has been codified in the regulations," Anderson said. "Maritime industry participants are required to demonstrate in their maritime security plans a mechanism for ongoing consultation with their employees."

The Department of Transport Assistant Secretary Maritime Security John Kilner has since written to MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin, seeking union views on maritime security and assuring union representation on the industry consultative committee, which begins operations on July 1. But already many port authorities have put forward their draft proposal for port security without any union consultation. All branches have been asked to have an input in company security plans. Their recommendations will undoubtedly affect workers.

In a nationwide hook-up on May 17, branches reported union involvement in South Australia, Tasmania (except for Burnie) Melbourne and Sydney with problems still reported in Queensland ports.

"Much still needs to be done," said Newlyn. "We've also had to take a stand with companies, like Teekay, trying to make a seafarer, not the mate or captain the ship's security officer. Some companies have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous like saying seafarers would be responsible for body and bomb searches or arming themselves with fire hoses in the event of a terrorist trying to get onboard a vessel."

They also want us guarding gangway gates they're installing. Newlyn said the union wants this job to go to shore based labour as the ship's watchman.

"I mean how is an IR expected to maintain gangway watch and check the manifold at the same time? And what is the IR supposed to do if someone tries to board the ship without the correct papers?"

The union has also raised the question of what training a company would provide MUA members expected to take on any security job.

Other questions yet unanswered are:

• Has the crew seen their ship's security plan and does everyone understand what to do in the event of an incident?
• Are companies ensuring crew can take shore leave including foreign ports?
• Does the crew get extra payment for added responsibilities?

Meanwhile, MUA Deputy National Secretary Jim Tannock was one of 36 representatives from Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Germany, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Spain, United Kingdom, the US, Finland, Italy and Turkey, who attended the tripartite meeting of experts on Security, Safety and Health in Ports held in Geneva in December. Representation was divided equally between employers, government and unions.

Since 9/11 the focus on port security has shifted from the threats TO trade and transport such as theft and hijacking, to the much more alarming threat FROM trade and transport from terrorists.

This was one of the key conclusions of the meeting. While the International Maritime Organisation is responsible for application of the ISPS Code it is limited to ship shore interface. The ILO covers the rest of the port. It also represents workers in safeguarding the commitment that workers' rights and access of workers' representatives should not be infringed by the code. Such rights should always be included in the make up of the port security plan.