Waterfront Warfare

Paul and family. PHOTO: Stuart Milligan

Paul Harkin is a veteran of the war on the waterfront, a stevedoring worker at Patrick, East Swanson Dock and a member of the ALP. His wife Cathie is a health worker. They live in the Port of Melbourne with their two children Sarah and Wesley.

"I joined Patrick in 1997 just in the nick of time. We were the first lot of casuals in the port just doing one day a fortnight. I wasn't involved with the Labor Party before the dispute. It was a defining moment. It was the catalyst for me becoming more political.

"The conservatives just want to wholesale wreck people's lives for the sake of profit. We're all just numbers to them. I know first hand how ruthless they are.

"It was very stressful during the lockout -- very stressful on the families. All the worry, the uncertainty. We've had a lot of premature deaths. People going with heart attacks, strokes, people with nervous disorders. Lots of us left prematurely. The dispute was the root cause. Lots of them found it hard to go back and work for a boss who'd do that to them. They chose to leave the industry rather than go back.

"I was working the twilight that night -- the night they invaded. We'd been gone about half an hour when they came in. I heard about it on the news the next morning.

"Why vote Labor? Well, firstly they say they will clear up the Workplace Relations Act. The Howard Government has unashamedly attacked unions across the board. They've sought to demonise workers and workers' institutions, like unions there to help workers. The union is there to protect us. When we stick together and look after each other we get by.

"My lasting memory is John Howard patting Peter Reith on the back in parliament when they announced the lock out. Howard's reaped a lot of damage on Australian workers and Australian working conditions. We've got a lot of rebuilding to do.

"I can't believe any maritime worker would vote for him. It's really disappointing. Short sighted. People can't see the bigger picture. Some people have got this selfish attitude these days. If you are doing fine, stuff the other bloke."

Paul is campaigning for the ALP in the seat of Port Melbourne. It used to be a safe Labor seat. But with all the 'gentrification' it's now only got a 5 per cent margin. "Members wishing to help ensure that War on the Waterfront never happens again should ring the union rooms and get involved," said Branch Secretary Kevin Bracken.