MUA Stengthens Pan Pacific Ties

National Secretary Paddy Crumlin celebrated a common heritage with the powerful US dock workers union the ILWU at its national convention on April 30.

The MUA National Secretary received a standing ovation from the 500 delegates at a convention of US dock workers in San Francisco.

ILWU President Jim Spinosa introduced the National Secretary by highlighting the 'special bond' between both unions, the Harry Bridges connection, US longshore solidarity during the 1998 Patrick lockout, MUA support during the 2002 ILWU lockout and the trade ties between the West Coast of the US, Australia and other Pacific Rim nations.

Paddy Crumlin again thanked the ILWU members for the US ban on the scab cargo on board the Columbus Canada in 1998. He drew on both unions "long and militant fighting histories."

"Our willingness not to wilt in the campaigns for social justice, peace and human rights have placed us in the hearts and minds of many workers around the world and provides inspiration in their battles for that same justice and equality," he said.

Crumlin also acknowledged the "blood shed because dock workers had the courage and determination to demand a better deal and a stronger union."

Also attending the convention and May Day dinner was MUA Newcastle Branch Secretary Jim Boyle alongside rank and filers Chris Byrne and Dave Smith (above).

"The three of us thought it a wonderful experience," said Newcastle Secretary Jim Boyle. "There were so many things going on. And we were surprised by the fact that many problems the ILWU is facing are problems we're facing here and have faced in the past. Problems worldwide seem to be the same.

"The ILWU delegates were interested in how we deal with casualisation and the government. And our health care system. Time and time again they raised the Australian health system as a guiding light as far as what they want," Boyle said.

"I've spoken to delegates here since I've got back and we want to send as many rank and filers as possible to these conferences," he said. "We're fund raising so our branch can send teams of delegates all over the world to see, first hand, the global problems we share."

Melbourne delegate Dave Smith (P&O) described the trip as a great learning experience.

"It really made me realise we're in a pretty good position here - millions of Americans have no access to health care. The ILWU people are lucky to have a health package. I know we've got our Abbots and our Andersons but the Bush administration is much worse. It was my first trip to the States and a real eye-opener."

Smith was impressed at how organised and active the ILWU pensioners were in the ILWU, but surprised that you had to work 35 years to get the full superannuation package and could only pass half it on to your spouse.

"But what I really found surprising was casuals are not allowed in the ILWU," said Smith. "The government there has a ready made workforce during a lockout. We had a few talks about that over a beer."

Smith said only around 13 per cent of US workers are in unions and they've lost around 800,000 jobs under the free trade agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico.

"We're all wharfies doing the same job and we're facing the same things. But on the union side, I felt we are better off here," said Smith.