Port of Call

Wharfie Legend, $155,000 grant for ITF seafarers Trust fund, Port Botany Virago, Good on you Shirley, MUA Vets branch out, May Day, Floating peace protest and MUA champ

Wharfie Legend

PORT PHILLIP: In his dying days wharfie Tommy Laing told the story of how he would swim to work. Working on the wharves in the Bull Days was tough. Swimming to work saved on shoe leather, money and kept you fit. It also made you feel good.

Now the tale has been immortalised. Artist Bill Perrin has rendered Tommy's discarded boots and clothes in bronze. And there it lies forever in Middle Park on the bluestone seawall commemorating Tommy and his workmates - wharfies who used to swim to work.

It is one of six public artworks and 28 plaques celebrating collective experiences and memories of Port Phillip in the project called 'margins, memories, and markers,'

A virtual gallery of the project, including the full stories collected as part of margins memories and markers, can be viewed on the council website http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/

$155,000 grant

MELBOURNE: The ITF Seafarers' Trust fund has made grants for two new buses in Victoria of late, ITF inspector Matt Purcell reports. One valued at $97,00 has gone to the Stella Maris Seafarers' Centre in Melbourne, the other costing $58,000 to the Mission to Seamen in Geelong.

In the Asia-Pacific region alone in 2001/2002 a total of 23 grants were approved totally more than $2 million.

"Many people wonder where all this money comes from," said Matt. "The answer is simple. We get the money from the shipowner when they sign an ITF agreement covering their vessel and it's paid into the welfare fund."

The fund provides for seafaring clubs, programs and studies worldwide.

The ITF has more than 600 affiliated transport unions across 135 countries all of which pay affiliation fees. This is what funds the Flag of Convenience campaign. Here in Australia the campaign employs three inspectors, one coordinator and support staff.

Last year ITF co-coordinators and inspectors worldwide recouped some US $31 million dollars in backpay for disadvantaged and exploited crews. Australia contributed US $1.6 million to this total.

But despite this, the campaign and seafarers trust still relies on the efforts of ITF staff and volunteers to ensure crew on FOC vessels get some protection against the ever-present pressures of globalisation.

Port Botany Virago

SYDNEY: Port Botany wharfie Sue Virago has been promoted on the world forum after being voted vice chair of the International Transport Workers' Federation women's committee in May.

A joint P&O/MUA initiative Virago has seen Virago working full time for the past year helping the company recruit more women into the industry and helping the MUA get women on board unions@work.

As well as her new ITF post Virago has also won recognition on the home front, celebrating a Women's Electoral Lobby award for her contribution to improving conditions for women workers.

"Suzan Virago has made a feminist difference in her workplace on the waterfront and in the Maritime Union of Australia - no mean feat!" the award read.

Virago was also re-elected unopposed as MUA National Women's Co-ordinator in April.

Good on you Shirley

BRISBANE: Forget the Queens honours list, Shirley White, wife of Brisbane wharfie Reg, this year won an Australia Day honour for her contribution to asbestos victims.

Retired branch official Jeff Langdon said it started when her husband contracted asbestosis from working for ANL on the wharves during the eighties. But for Shirley it was not enough to help him through it. She established and dedicated the last 12 years of her life to the Queensland Asbestos Related Diseases Support Society.

"We make sure our people see the correct doctors and help them with Workcover and compensation," she said. "We also have hospital visits and lots of public education work."

Shirley was made a Member of the Order of Australia.

MUA Vets Branch Out

The National MUA Veterans' Association established in September last year now boasts branches in Sydney, Newcastle, Adelaide, Brisbane, Fremantle, WA and Wollongong, National Secretary Bill Bodenham reports.

But Tasmania and the Northern Territory are still to come, with Bob Johnson finding it difficult to track down retired members on the Apple Isle.

Anyone living in Tasmania interested in joining the local branch should contact Bob on (03) 642 44852.

Meanwhile the new national organisation has lived up to its motto 'Retired from the Workplace not the Struggle', condemning the Howard Government support for the invasion of Iraq by forwarding a protest message to Howard, Crean and the US Embassy in Australia.

The executive meeting also resolved that branches should campaign for public health services, especially bulk billing.

"If we don't show some fight on health matters we will finish up with a system similar to the one that prevails in the USA," said Bill.

The campaign is being run jointly with the Retired Mine Workers and Combined Pensioners Association. And it has been adopted by the Newcastle Trades Hall Council. Thanks to the MUA Veterans initiative the fight for better public health care is already under way with public meetings being held nationwide.

The National Secretary of the Veterans' Association also calls on other branches to contact and work together with retired mine worker groups in their areas "with the aim of working together socially and politically (to) strengthen our campaigns."

The next Veterans National Conference is scheduled for February 2004.

Meanwhile the veteran's national executive on June 23 accepted an invitation from the ILWU pensioners for delegates to their 36th national convention this September. Elected delegates are National President Harry Black and Don Williams (Newcastle).

May Day Prize

Darwin: The prize of best May Day celebrations this year must go to Darwin Branch. "It was a fantastic event this year, with over 300 people taking part in the march and then up to 1500 attending the concert later in the night," said Trevor Monday. . "Indigenous rock, blues and reggae bands filled the bill with Yothi Yindi being the main act. It was very rewarding to see MUA members involved within the running and assisting the procession and the concert. Special guests Zitu da Costa (KSTL President) from East Timor, Mick Killick MUA/ITF East Timor added to the success of the day."

Thanks go to MUA members on the Jabiru and Challis Venture, Far Scotsman, Total Provider and the Pacific Conqueror for the time and effort afforded to the day.

Fun Day

TOWNSVILLE: Once again the Provincial Council of the Queensland Council of Unions organised a well-attended Labour Day celebration at Strand Park on May 5.

Sue Mackay, branch office reports: Before the real fun began, several hundred people representing various unions proudly marched the length of The Strand with their banners. Our comrades from the BLF secured the ACTU-QCU Perpetual Trophy. And North Queensland MUA members received recognition on the day for their vocal demonstration!

Five Labor Party members addressed the crowd including Senator Jan McLucas who criticised the Federal Government's poor support of working-class families, its higher education policies and the proposed changes to Medicare.

As this year's theme for the celebrations was "Unions for Working Families" other speakers also noted how the Howard Government was out of touch with the plight of working families.

Townsville City Council again contributed financially to the event. Mayor Tony Mooney rejected criticism from local coalition representatives who claimed the occasion was supported only because of council's Labor administration. Mayor Mooney reminded the gathering that Labour Day is a celebration for workers, and those workers and families are responsible for our community's economic growth and social well being.

Then came the fun and games. The inaugural bike decoration competition was well received with MUA member Sayd Metcalfe accepting the prize of a new bicycle. There was an obvious MUA influence with this entry as his bike was disguised to look like a ship and appropriately named "May Day". MUA members also won the Unions' Tug of War challenge.

Special thanks to Russell Carr and Ros McLennan from the Townsville Provincial Council and Peter Lamond and other comrades from the NQ Branch of the MUA for their assistance in making this day a great success.

Floating Peace Protest

SYDNEY, April 5: PM John Howard had his Saturday afternoon nap disturbed by thunderous tones of rowdy protesters broadcast over a pretty hefty PA system from a ferry just off his front lawn at Kirribilli Place.

The occasion was a Floating Peace Protest organised by the MUA in conjunction with the CFMEU and AMWU and supported by Greenpeace, NSW Labor Council, the NSW Greens and the Walk against War Coalition.

Two ferries left Circular Quay at 12.30 on a windy Sydney day, joining a flotilla of Greenpeace activists in rubber dinghies, yachts, kayaks, canoes and surfboards.

Outgoing National Shipping Campaign Co-ordinator Sean Chaffer reports:

On board the main ferry were Paddy Crumlin, MUA; Ian Cohen, NSW Greens MLC; Peter Mullins, CEO Greenpeace; Paul Bastian AMWU, myself and a few dozen other members and activists.

STOP THE WAR was the message with all of the speakers underlining that Howard had betrayed the Australian public.

The highlight of the action was when canoes surfers, and kayaks formed a floating peace symbol.

Cameras rolled and helicopters buzzed, sending our message to the rest of the world. And the message was that there are many people in Australia who do not subscribe to the theory of following US International policy of invading other countries.

MUA Champ

MELBOURNE: Port worker Graham Cole will compete in the World Triathlon Championships in New Zealand this year.

Rated six in the world for his age, Graham works for Skilled Maritime.

Workmate Sean Breen is calling on members to get behind Graham and help fund his go at becoming world's best.

"Now for the snip," said Breen. "Graham is an amateur sportsman and has to pay for everything himself from running shoes, airfares, accommodation, even the green and gold Aussie uniform. So come on comrades. He'll be wearing the MUA logo with pride. Tickle your rolling funds and social clubs and help make Graham world's best."