Mailbag

Rosalie Evans with Chris Cain

BRING THE TROOPS HOME

The Mornington / Westernport Branch of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) Victorian Veterans' Association on October 10 passed a resolution calling on the Federal Government to withdraw Australian troops from Afghanistan immediately, and calling on the Australian Labor Party Opposition to also commit to a withdrawal.

The needless deaths suffered by our service personnel are the direct responsibility of both the Federal Government and a compliant Opposition.

History demonstrates that Afghanistan has never yielded to occupying armies, be they of England, Russia or the USA.

Young Australians, some the sons, grandsons and daughters of members of this association are being sacrificed, not because of El Quaida and the Taliban, but because of the Bush administration's policy to dominate the world.

Return our troops from Afghanistan and Iraq now.

Geoff Swayn (secretary)

Bruce Paris

Westernport Veterans' Association

GOODBYE ALL

I would like to say goodbye to all my fellow MUA staff and officials from around Australia. It has been a lot of fun, an exciting and challenging 23 years all rolled into one, but I know that we have all had similar experiences, which is why we look at ourselves like family.

I have had great joy and pride in my job, since joining the Waterside Workers Credit Union in December 1984 and then becoming the Office Manager of the Waterside Workers Federation in July 1989 and of course continuing as the Office Manager of the Maritime Union of Australia after our amalgamation.

I have said repeatedly over the years that I have never found my job boring or a chore because I have loved the people I worked with. Indeed I have considered myself lucky to have been able to associate with such amazing, kind and generous people such as the wharfies and seafarers.

Every official, member, life member, staff members both locally and in the branches who I have had the pleasure of working with hold a special place in my heart. I will always be here for anybody who needs me. I will only be a phone call away, because I would hate to think that my association with the wonderful Maritime Union of Australia ends once I move on to a new and exciting next part of my life.

All my love and best wishes,

Rosalie Evans (JP)

Office Administrator

MUA West Australian Branch

AN HONOUR

Dear Paddy, I wish to take this opportunity to thank you and the National Council for the kind invitation extended to Joyce and myself to attend the National Council dinner in Sydney on Wednesday October 10. It was truly an honour to be recognised in such a gathering of people, especially two committed trade unionists as John Coombs and Pat Geraghty. I guess the realisation that my time had finally come to an end sent the emotions sky high and unfortunately I was unable to reply to your kind words. It certainly has been a period of time in my life that I will never forget, beginning with the Clerks' Branch joining the Waterside Workers' Federation and then the amalgamation with the Seamen's Union of Australia to form the now proud maritime Union of Australia and finally being appointed the ITF Inspector in Fremantle.

Being able to assist international seafarers, especially from the Third World and developing countries and the wonderful friends that I have made because of this is something that will last in my memory forever.

Ross and Joyce Storer

THANKS COMRADES

First let me thank you for the generous donations received from branches to assist the family of Peter Frawley who was critically injured in a road accident on the way to work at Fisherman's Island. Peter died shortly afterwards in May.

Members have requested that I again raise with branches the issue of calling for membership collections on the job as a way to bolster the amounts already contributed by branches. This would ensure as best as possible that the family is free of financial worries.

Your consideration of this would be appreciated and will assist greatly.

Mick Carr

Southern Qld Branch Secretary

CHINA DELEGATION

In early July Assistant State Secretary David Cushion and l were invited to take part in a four union delegation to the Peoples' Republic of China, to establish links and promote an understanding of how our differing systems operate. The MUA has always operated at the leading edge of the Australian trade union movement which has seen our leaders develop relationships with many unions across the world, to counter the increasing web of global capital. In this vein we met with trade union leaders across China from Beijing to Jinnan to Nanjing to Shanghai; and in every city we had extensive consultations with their leaders and exchanged views with polite but free flowing candor. As guests of the ACFTU (All China Federation of Trade Unions) we had privileged access to factories, hospitals, ports and schools, which we inspected and had further meetings with management at those local levels.

But the overwhelming impression you get when in China is the amount of building and construction happening. From freeways to ports to apartments and office complexes, they are a updating their infrastructure at a rapid pace.

Paul Harkins

Union no: 5016195