Logging On

Paddy Crumlin with Hanafi Rustandi, Indonesian Seafarers' Union and ITF co ordinator

By MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin

From the Hungry Mile, to the 10th anniversary of organised labour and community activity against the Howard Government''s Patrick conspiracy, to the unambiguous commitment by the Deputy Prime Minister to the future of Australia''s shipping industry - conference was the real thing.

National Conference of Delegates

What a week that was. We all worked harder than Peter Garrett's barber to make it a success. He was one of the many friends and supporters of our union who turned up, helping to launch on behalf of the Rudd Government the new Sydney waterfront district The Hungry Mile.

Peter Garrett joined Frank Sartor from the NSW Government and actor and poet Jack Thompson, who read the poem 'The Hungry Mile' to the hundreds of conference delegates, international guests, veterans and friends in a celebration of labour values and history. It was the last function of the closing day of the conference and concluded with the awarding of life membership to Ina Heidtman, 46 years an employee of the union and a comrade, union and political progressive and activist for much longer. Jack was so inspired he gave further poetic renditions to the huge appreciation of the big turnout at the Big House Hotel. It was very thirsty work.

The week of Conference was like that. Important debate and discussion on our union and how to make it more effective, democratic, organised and supportive, along with celebrations and appreciation of the long road we've traveled and the many comrades and friends we've traveled it with.

This Maritime Workers' Journal gives an initial report on the Conference of Delegates and our collective determinations from a little over a month ago so our membership can read and follow the progress made on our policy formulation at meetings at the end of May. More extensive reporting will follow in the next MWJ.

From the Hungry Mile, to the 10th anniversary of organised labour and community activity against the Howard Government's Patrick conspiracy, to the unambiguous commitment by the Deputy Prime Minister to the future of Australia's shipping industry - conference was the real thing. Large delegations of rank and file dockworkers attended from the ILWU, the FNV dockworkers union of the Netherlands and of course our mates from the Maritime Union of New Zealand. They joined with the General Secretary of the ITF David Cockcroft, the Dockworkers' Secretary Frank Leys and representatives from many maritime unions across the world reciprocating in person our union's long commitment to international solidarity and the policies and actions now required to secure the futures of seafarers, dockworkers and port workers in radically different international economic and political circumstances.

Our many friends in the Australian trade union movement also put their hands to the oars in driving forward our many alliances and policies across all our areas of joint activity.

The MUA's leadership in helping to obtain long term protection and support for maritime workers was not lost on the largest conference of delegates ever held by our union. They demonstrated the finest qualities of leadership and commitment to the workers who sent them and discharged their responsibilities to our union and membership in an inspirational and exemplary manner. They delivered a policy for our union's future, made friends and built our standing and capacity and even managed to get a few hours sleep along the way. They were supported by elected officers, industrial officers and staff in an outstanding demonstration of commitment, democracy and progressive vision. Congratulations comrades, here to stay.

2020 Alliances

The 2020 Summit was a different experience altogether, though a refreshing one. After the stolidly surly and uncommunicative years of public dialogue on just about everything under that little power tripper John Howard, the chance to get together with other Australians from various walks of life to chat and compare notes on what our country should become seemed to be appreciated by just about everyone there. Except the man with the $500 haircut, Brendan Nelson.

The leader of the opposition reckoned it was a dud because all he met were MUA officials and representatives of the sex worker industry. Out of 1000 delegates there was only one of each, so he must have been looking pretty hard. Something Freudian there. Paul Howes, the new National Secretary of the AWU rang me after he read Mr. Nelson's observations to remind me the AWU has constitutional coverage of that industry. He wanted to know whether the MUA was seeking to extend our joint organising initiatives to other occupations outside the hydrocarbon industry.

What about Brendan Nelson's haircut though? It would do an east London gangster proud. It's a pity he doesn't pay the same attention to detail to the future of the country he reportedly wants to lead.

Big Ideas

The summit was about developing big ideas that would help shape the next decade and beyond. There were some impressive contributions, and the format of 10 streams dealing with various aspects of our social, economic and cultural life worked well. Everyone got to make a genuine contribution and the more important views were agreed by consensus through smaller and larger workshops and then brought back to the plenary sessions.

I was pushing the idea that developing regional prosperity, particularly in East Timor, Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific was critical to Australia's future security and prosperity. Part of that was finding solutions to regional migration and skills development that will assist those countries in the tough environmental and economic trials ahead. It was well received and we will continue to progress the issues, particularly in our maritime and hydrocarbon industry with the Rudd Government. It was also an important policy that came from our Conference of Delegates, with many guests from the region in attendance expressing appreciation for the union's support.

The summit was never going to result in a detailed plan or analysis, and was not designed to. It shouldn't be a substitute for the ALP Conference and complementary policy making forums within the Labor Party.

What it did do was attract both high profile Australians and others who are willing and determined to add to a process of public debate on the future of a country that makes up their individual and collective futures.

It wasn't a turnout for the cynics, and of course many including myself had to curb that tendency even to apply to attend. It wasn't done on a party political basis, and applying was no guarantee of getting there. A mini CV with a bit on what you thought was important for Australia's future went to an independent panel for final selection.The process produced an eclectic cross representation from all walks of life. It was supposed to be the 1000 brightest of our community. My selection must have brought the average IQ down by 10 per cent.

CEOs of companies like Macquarie Bank mixing with media, entertainment and cultural icons, social workers, academics, farmers, sports men and women and many other people from diverse occupations and vocations in a pressure cooker environment of discussion, debate and focused conclusions. Like I said, compared to the last decade of dumbing down of any ideas other than the neo conservative nerds of the Howard Government and their extended policy and media framework, it was a move in a fresh direction.

Any dialogue of this type however needs to have results to keep the spitting cat of cynicism at bay. Results and final assessment on its worth will be measured in more openly responsive and accountable government, a determination to deliver on the policies they are elected on and a commitment to learn from inevitable mistakes. Otherwise the next best big idea is to forget about it all and put it down to another lost weekend.