Vox pops

MUA Women's conference delegates

Conference delegates have their say

ALAN WATTAN (Patrick, Fremantle): "I thought it was the best conference ever. It was good to hear that while Labor is elected and a lot of our enemies are out of the way, the union is not going to rest on its laurels. The yr@w campaign is not finished, it's just begun."

MARIE (RIO) WOODS (Dampier, general cargo wharf): "It was the most awesome thing I've ever experienced in my life. The family, the brotherhood, the sense of belonging, the camaraderie and the pride. The international speakers were awesome. The unions are going to globalise and there's going to 10 billion workers of the world unite. We'll make it a whole lot better world."

CHRIS CAIN (WA Branch Secretary): "Conference was a great success. The respect the MUA has internationally was shown at conference - that was an education for me. We've got to learn from our history to educate the young men and women coming through."

JIM BOYLE (NNSW Branch Secretary): "The one thing that delegates said was, this conference was better than ever. The roll up of international delegates was recognition of the high regard the MUA is held in worldwide."

GEOFF DUNN (Svitzer Lines, Newcastle): "I was surprised to see that international solidarity has gone that extra yard. It's extraordinary to see the work the national officers have done to cement that support. It makes you feel more solid in your own union and your own country. If it ever does hit the wall we know we've got that international support."

MATT LEACH,IR, Helix, "I thought it was terrific. Conference was a good example of the members and officials being able to have an equal say in the future of the union. It's great being able to meet with all the other delegates from around the country, all the people that came from overseas and guys from our office too. It was a really good organising tool to bring back to the lads on the ship. I did a slide show for everyone and got a few of the young blokes involved. They were wrapped that someone from our ship got to go. It was my first conference and I feel very privileged."

RAY MURCHIE (Patrick, Port Kembla): "It was good to see how the union has got the CFMEU, the AWU and ourselves together and we are all going in the one direction nationally. It's good having conference every four years so we know the union is heading in the right direction."

JANE HYSLOP, (Port Botany) It was a great conference. I liked hearing John Robertson from UnionsNSW talk about moving forward with the momentum from the yr@w campaign and, as workers, setting our own agenda instead of governments and corporations setting it for us.

It was good going to a plenary meeting and being involved in ideas for policy that came from MUA members from workplaces around the country, being part of the sessions where we hammered out the best thinking into a policy that was discussed and voted on by the whole conference. And it was great hearing some thought by our veterans about how to get back our right to strike by including it in an Australian bill of rights."

HARRY SMITH(Fairstard, Port Kembla): "It was a privilege to be able to attend the conference and experience the respect we are held in by our comrades all over the world. Instead of members asking why our officials are overseas so often, we should be making sure they are there, to foster the importance of international solidarity, to defend and advance the position of maritime workers all over the world. I felt great pride in being a member of the MUA and thank the branch and members for the opportunity to attend."

IAN HILL (POAGs, Tasmania): "Conference was well run this year. The speakers were excellent, especially Big Bob, Julia and Kim. It's good bringing all the delegates together and being a part of history. You catch up with people you don't see for four years and you get to compare work situations. It will be interesting to compare in four years time what it's like under the new government."

BRUCE JONES (Patrick, Tasmania): "I thought it was informative and well organised. Everyone has their say and a chance to have some input. Conference gives you another insight into how the union operates - the way it goes forward. It has direction. There's a roadmap for the future. As a delegate down here in Tasmania you don't realise what a large area we cover - Port Hedland to Tasmania and everything in between."

PETER HAZELTON (NSS, Townsville): "We got a good idea of the direction we are heading politically and we proved we can make a difference politically if we are involved in the right way and strike the right chord with people in the community.

A couple of things stood out. Conference reinforced our union's commitment to the indigenous community. The Aboriginal welcome and dance were the highlight for me. Also the fact that we are now cooperating more with other unions rather than combating them. We are now working together for a common goal."

PAUL SHEEHAN (Patrick general, Brisbane): "The presentation was sensational. I have a better insight about why we organise globally. I used to have a feeling that it was more important to look after your own backyard. I certainly now understand the importance of organising globally. But I don't think we had a lot of time to thrash out the resolutions."

MAZEB AL HELO (Captain Cook Cruises, Sydney): "It was an extreme experience. Overwhelming. So many good issues we discussed are eventually going to benefit the MUA members. The utmost dream is to see better working conditions and better social outcomes. You create that vision when you attend such conferences. The highlight for me was passing the resolution on Palestine. It's awesome to see the international delegates - a great gathering. You hear how unionists get hammered by governments no matter where they are. That's globalisation; we're all sharing the pain and sharing the happiness. The problems are the same everywhere and we have to take a stand. To say something and stick by it, that shows the true value of a human being."

TREVOR MUNDAY (SQld Branch Deputy Secretary): "It's important for the rank and file to see our close bonds with internationals. It gives them a bit more understanding of how some of the issues we face in this country are the same in other nations."