IR solidarity from abroad
Dozens of letters of support from workers near and far have come through to the MUA in support of Australian workers and their battle against the Howard Government's draconian IR laws.
Unions pledging support include:
Papua New Guinea
The PNG Maritime Workers' Union whose national council unanimously condemned the Howard Government's workplace policies.
South Korea
Federation of Korean Seafarers' Unions.
India
The 20,000-strong Transport & Dockworkers' Union of Mumbai; All India Port and Dock Workers' Federation; National Federation of Indian Railwaymen; Aviation Industry Employees Guild; National Union of Seafarers' of India; Cochin Port Staff Association of India; Karnataka Dock & General Workers Union, representing dock workers in New Mangalore Port.
Japan
National Council of Dockworkers Unions of Japan; All Japan Seamen's Union; Japan Confederation of Railway Workers Unions; Koun-Rokyo, representing 673,000 transport workers in Japan.
Indonesia
National Front of Indonesian Workers' Struggle.
Greece
Pan Hellenic Union of Merchant Marine Engineers.
Thailand
State Transport Workers' Federation of Thailand.
Sri Lanka
Flight Attendants Union, representing cabin crew of Sri Lankan Airlines.
Burma
Seafarers Union of Burma.
USA
International Brotherhood of Teamsters in Washington.
"In the past we have looked to Australia as a reference point for the upholding of human rights and respecting workplace standards," wrote Shigeru Wada, Regional Secretary Asia Pacific Region of the International Transport Workers' Federation.
"The provisions in your laws are contrary to the ILO Convention no 98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining. We are keeping a close watch on the legal developments and the political situation in Australia."
"The Howard Government has criminalised Australian workers for union activity," said Atar Dien, General Secretary of Indonesia's FNPBI. "The imperialists try to profit from impoverishing workers, they try to blame workers for economic crises they make, they survive by taking our rights. So it is time to strike back.
"Whatever the form of repression, it is our duty to defend our rights and together with Australian workers we speak for freedom from oppression," said Atar Dien. "Your struggle is our struggle."
The above unions also sent letters of protest to Australian embassies and consulates in their countries on or before the ACTU Day of Action on November 30 last year.
In the Philippines unionists belonging to the militant labour centre Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) held a protest in front of the Australian embassy in Makati City to show their solidarity with Australian workers. Security guards of the RCBC Plaza building and Philippine National Police (PNP) armed with M16 rifles, shields and batons, beat the protestors, pushing them into the traffic.
"We are particularly shocked that private security guards, working indirectly under the responsibility of the Australian Embassy, tried to suppress our action," said KMU chairperson Elmer Labog. "We thought a country like Australia upholds the democratic right to peaceful protest, instead of repressing our protest just like we are used to under the forces of the Arroyo regime."
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