Maritime Union of Australia: General: Conference Resolutions 08

1.1 National Conference determines that the union will remain a leader in the Australian trade union movement in adopting the whole of working life approach to its support for its membership. MUA support for the membership extends significantly beyond the traditional bread and butter issues associated with negotiation of wages and industrial conditions for the members. It also extends beyond the provision of support services for members.

1.2 One important dimension of the MUA approach is to support members in their retirement, by encouraging savings and planning for post working life, aimed at ensuring members can sustain a good quality of life in their retirement. However, we also aim to support members with their overall financial position during their working life, by providing banking and other financial services through the Credit Union, aimed at ensuring assets are built and that life choices are maximised.

1.3 The union also supports the members with occupational training for career progression, with delegates training and with many opportunities for participation aimed at building their role as unionist and citizen.

1.4 In addition, the union lobbies and works with Government to influence the provision of services and a tax, welfare and economic system that is just, fair and equitable, and that supports working families.

1.5 The objective of the union in relation to the Seacare scheme of workers' compensation and OHS for seafarers over the next 4 years is to build the viability of the scheme. Subject to the view of the Rudd Government, the union is also willing to participate in reform of the scheme aimed at maintaining a strong benefits structure supported by an effective rehabilitation regime, and OHS compliance and enforcement across the jurisdiction of the legislation.

1.6 The MUA continue to vigorously pursue a National Stevedoring Safety Code of Practice and influence where possible the outcomes via political and industrial means to ensure that waterfront safety is broadly recognised by all waterfront labour regardless of employer.

National Stevedoring COP to include all areas of stevedoring and wharf work: Bulk and general / Terminal / Lines person / Contractors, etc

1.7 Ensure commitment of both the Federal & State Governments' is maintained via communication and consultation.

1.8 Branch and Rank and File input is sourced on a regular basis via the National Office Report and Journal/Branch Newsletter Articles.

1.9 Maintain engagement with federal government via the Communications and Research Officer in Canberra highlighting the urgency of COP.

1.10 Maintain an employer working group and ensure meetings are conducted on a regular basis to progress the campaign.

1.11 Develop "Milestones" and forward to branches seeking input to ensure full involvement at every level in the campaign.

All branches and site OH&S committees actively discuss and develop position/issues for inclusion in the National Stevedoring COP that a defined timeline of 3 months be agreed to.

1.12 Occupational Cancer - Support the research and development of a position paper

1.13 Continue involvement in ACTU/Trade Unions Standing Committees on Australian Standards

1.14 Continue to research scientific material on Drug & alcohol testing regime/methods

1.17 MUA to ensure we link the National Stevedoring COP activity to the Marine Orders 32 Review and campaign strongly to strengthen AMSA inspector's role in determining a safety breach in line with marine orders.

1.18 That AMSA be sufficiently resourced to enable the inspectors to carry out their responsibilities and are accountable and that the navigation act and regulations be enforced.

1.19 MUA in consultation with employers should implement emergency evacuation plan.

1.20 OH&S length of break between shifts (to include place of residence), excessive use of 12 hours shifts sleep deprivation.

OH&S representatives/committees reaffirm the duty of care in regards to fatigue under their relevant State/National OH&S Act/ Regulations.

1.21 MUA continue with a program to deliver world's best practice Drug & Alcohol policy that reflects testing for impairment. Within existing legal & regulatory constraints the MUA will seek to ensure that policies and procedures are focused on drug and alcohol misuse prevention, self management and rehabilitation as opposed to detection and discipline.

1.22 National drug and alcohol policy to be based on resolution to impairment and rehabilitation.

1.23 The MUA continues negotiations to remove Urine Testing as initial screening tests, and replacing them with Saliva Testing.

1.24 The MUA to develop education programs on Drug & Alcohol Policy / testing to Rank & File membership.

� Continue to consult with industry stakeholders within the NMSC forum and directly.

� Engage with the Federal Minister if NMSC continues to resist introduction of uniform standards.

� Encourage Branch involvement with relevant State Ministers and appropriate State/NT Marine Safety organisations via lobbying/engagement.

� Work with national Transport & Logistics Industry Skills Council (T&L ISC) in a collaborative approach to obtain funding.

1.28 Need to promote and ensure Branch involvement in the state/territory Industry Skills Councils.

1.29 The MUA will continue to campaign with shipping companies to increase the number of enrolled TIRs, especially those identified as not meeting their training obligations.

1.30 The MUA will, in parallel with, campaign against the shipping companies lobby/engage the Minister for Education for funding of trainees/training in the maritime industry. In addition the MUA will ensure that any funding allocated to the T&L Industry Skills Council (ISC) and to Registered Training Organisations (RTO) in the industry is allocated on a fair and equitable basis within the transport industry, to ensure maritime training is adequately resourced.

1.31 The union will continue to prioritise the delivery of high quality, soundly administered and industrially relevant superannuation services to the membership and their families with the view of providing long term financial support in retirement or in the event of serious illness or death in employment.

1.32 The principal mechanism of activities for this will be the consolidation of superannuation into a single maritime fund acting for all maritime workers in the industry.

1.33 The MUA supports the amalgamation of the 2 industry superannuation funds SERF & SRF.

(c) Investigate the occurrence and insure members are paid superannuation contributions when they are received income protection.

1.37 The union will continue to support and be actively involved in the strengthening of the Maritime Workers Credit Union to help ensure independent, well resourced and top quality financial services to the membership at a time when the general banking and financial services sector continues to mismanage and exploit consumer debt in their own commercial self interest.

1.38 Part of the strengthening of the Maritime Workers Credit Union is the broadening of its base to the mining and power industries and the workers and their families employed or retired from those areas. This broadening of the financial base of the credit union is essential in the highly competitive and regulatory demanding environment it is operating in. The Maritime Union of Australia and its officers and retired officers will continue to have close association and direct involvement in the ongoing directorship of the credit union to ensure these objects are realised.

1.39 Officials where applicable are appropriately educated as per the financial regulations and legislation so as to continue serving the membership as employee representatives on the Board's of the superannuation funds and the Maritime Workers Credit Union.

1.40 Conference recommends that an evaluation of the classification structure of the Stevedoring Industry Award (SIA) be undertaken with a view of amending the Award to include task and skills involving new technologies.

1.41 The MUA mount a campaign for increased number of TIR enrolments with shipping companies who have been identified as not meeting their training obligations.

1.42 That the MUA engage the Federal Minister for Education with the objective of ensuring that funds which are made available to industry and Registered Training Organisations (RTO) under the revised Vocational Educational and Training system (VET) that sufficient funds are allocated towards the maritime industry.

1.43 That the MUA also engage with the Transport & Logistic Industry Skills Council (T&L ISC) to ensure that funding which will be allocated for skills training, especially skills shortage is allocated on a fair and equitable basis within all sectors of the transport industry.

1.44 Conference calls on the continued development of the MUA's Employment Assistance Scheme (EAS) as a vehicle for placement of employment for our members across all industry sectors including shipping, stevedoring, diving, etc and that EAS be continue to be enhanced and where possible included in Enterprise Agreements as part of the recruitment arrangements. The union to continue to engage employers in the use of the EAS system as an efficient and effective mechanism to deal with the supply of qualified and experienced labour to the maritime industry.

1.45 In the forthcoming four year period issues that will need to be dealt with include holding a conference of the offshore membership in the second half of 2008 with the objectives of:

� Develop a response and action plan to deal with issues that keep the MUA strong in the offshore, ie:

� Continue and develop campaign to deal with non-union operators including the use of fishing vessels as chase boats.

� Discuss and commit to the international offshore campaigns via the ITF Offshore Taskforce Group.

� Consider what assistance by the offshore sector we can provide on a regional basis to ratings in East Timor, PNG, etc.

1.46 The challenges for the towage industry will continue to be foreign non-union competition generated by the competitive nature of the Port Authority and State governments who under the Australian government competition policy are obliged to have competitive tendering for towage.

1.47 There are some growth opportunities in towage with the increasing resource sector as was shown in the Port of Gladstone. Newcastle in particular has opportunities, as does Port Hedland.

1.48 The union intends to hold a towage conference in early June 2008 to consider the challenges confronting the towage industry. The conference will be self-funded from the towage rolling fund established some time ago.

1.49 The dredging Enterprise Agreement negotiations are due to commence shortly. A feature of these negotiations will be the union's endorsed position from the members to take the Enterprise Agreement closer to the terms and conditions that exist in the offshore.

1.50 The other feature will be the involvement of the AWU in the negotiations for their non-propelled Agreement with the intention of levelling the terms and conditions of the AWU non-propelled EBA closer to the MUA's propelled EBA which is superior in terms of conditions.

1.51 The other issue will be a continuation of pressure on the companies to provide training for new entrants and skills enhancement such as crane operation, pipe operators, etc.

1.52 Conference resolves that the union will investigate the setting up of a national bereavement fund to assist the families of deceased members arising from a fatality at work or on the journey to or from work. Amongst the principles to under pin any fund that is established is the necessity for equity between applicant families, the voluntary nature of participation and the financial sustainability of the fund.

1.53 MUA should seek to develop a clear and transparent selection criteria for advancement across different industry sectors.

All MUA related jobs to be advertised internally by the companies to give existing members, employee ability to apply for upgraded positions.

1.54 The MUA seeks to reaffirm union policy around the important question of working hours. While in the majority of cases, working hours are determined by enterprise agreement outcomes; union policy must remain and strive to achieve the reduction in working hours to 35 hour week as a general principal across all industries. In conjunction with reduced working hours, there should not be any loss of pay as a consequence bringing about the general principal of a shorter working week.

1.55 Introduce early retirement plan, i.e. graduated retirement, across all sectors of the maritime industry.

1.56 Conference recommends that the MUA in conjunction with the ACTU commence a campaign to re-establish universal free public health care. (Medicare) And the unions continue to push for affordable health cover for Union Members where such cover is not provided for in collective agreements.

1.57 Employer to pay private health insurance to be achieved via EBA negotiations.

1.58 The MUA campaign strongly to ensure the Labor Government delivers on election promises including the abolition of WorkChoices and strengthening of cabotage and Australian Shipping in general.

1.59 While welcoming the defeat of the Coalition government by the Rudd Labor team, the MUA restates its opposition to any restriction on our right to withdraw labour and any restriction on our right to organise maritime workers. These fundamental rights remain our objective in our dealings with the federal Labor government and in campaigns within the union movement to overturn 'WorkChoices' laws and any other anti-working class legislation introduced by the previous government.

2.1 The unions forward strategy will provide a range of important opportunities for membership participation and involvement in the decision making processes of the union and in its external initiatives and campaigns.

2.2 The union will continue to develop activities and campaigns strengthening our organisational structure. The union's policy in this area is based on ensuring that all activities strengthen the involvement of the members through delegate, women's, youth, veterans and other structures and committees. The formation of committees is to ensure that the policies of the union are translated into strengthening activities and as a method of review so those policies can continue to evolve in the interests of the membership affected in those areas and the union as a whole.

2.3 This method of organising is important in continuing to ensure that officials are aware of and represent the interests of the membership and the membership in turn are kept fully appraised of all relevant information in those areas of activities.

2.4 This method of organisation of course also will apply to industrial organisation including in areas such as occupational health and safety, national security standards, workers compensation, EBA negotiations as well as specific areas of industrial organisation including the shipping, stevedoring, offshore and hydrocarbon, towage and port, diving and other related industries covered by the union.

2.5 Social and political organisation also requires an organised approach to campaigning including the development of participation structures and review mechanisms on progress in areas of social justice such as APHEDA, indigenous policy and regional and international trade union solidarity including the important areas of activity through the International Transport Workers Federation.

2.6 The union needs to prioritise all of its areas of activities and participation in the organisational structures to deliver those activities to ensure that the protection and development of the interests of the membership and their families are secured as a fundamental principle.

2.7 Assistant National Secretary Mick Doleman and tug officials will be seeking to hold a National Tug Conference in the latter half of May 2008 in preparation for AMS Enterprise Agreement and issues relating to the new ownership and Svitzer's Enterprise Agreement with the intention of harmonising the outcomes as closely as possible.

2.8 Comrades Mick Doleman and Rod Pickette will be organising a program of Branch workshops for Officials and activists on the future YR@W activities and lobbying in each Branch.

2.9 Conference recognises the role of the MUA and CFMEU Mining & Energy's rank and file members, veterans and officials in the YR@W and Marginal Seats campaign leading to the election of the Rudd Labor government.

2.10 We congratulate the ACTU and affiliates for the united front displayed during the long campaign confirming the slogan "Unions United Will Never Be Defeated".

2.11 Conference confirms our support for the continuation of the YR@W campaign in support of union and community solidarity.

2.12 We recognise the YR@W campaign should be linked to the union movement's growth strategy to raise the unions' power and influence in our workplaces and in community interests. Further, we should link our YR@W campaign to the MUA political lobby including developing strong ongoing relationships with the candidates we supported in the last election leading up to the next election.

2.13 The union give consideration to developing appropriate training in the Branches for Officials and rank and file on the issue of campaigning for ongoing YR@W activities linking to the MUA lobby strategy.

2.14 Finally, conference recognises the role of Shannon Gleeson and Lara Watson as the MUA and CFMEU's co-ordinators in the Marginal Seats campaign and congratulates both on the excellent work and successful outcome in this Federal election.

2.15 Officials responsible or the offshore oil and gas sector will be looking to hold a national Offshore Conference in the second half of 2008 leading to the expiry of the MUA Offshore Agreement at the end of 2008.

2.16 The National Conference of the MUA give consideration to the development of a policy for the off-going crew on all vessels remain onboard until their relief or opposite number arrives. This is in the interest of safety, security of our manning numbers, and the supply of union labour.

2.17 It is proposed that the "expand the Australian merchant fleet campaign" be re-invigorated. Fundamental to this is the involvement of the rank & file membership. The election of the ALP with an Australian Shipping policy in place is an achievement that needs to be recognized, but without an ongoing campaign our objectives of an expanded fleet will not be realised.

Conference to consider the need to develop the shipping campaign and coordinate this work nationally. The election of the Rudd Government presents the Union with great opportunities to extend and build the Australian shipping industry after 11 years of destructive sabotage by the Howard Government. Nothing will be handed to us on a platter and the MUA will need to coordinate its strategy and tactics across the Branches in order to present a united and determined voice to Government about the need to reinvigorate our shipping industry.

We need to campaign to ensure there is appropriate attention to developing more Trainee IR positions to address our chronic skills shortage as well as seeing capital injection into seafarer training. We need more seafarers to ensure we can man more Australian ships which is our right in dealing with Australian coastal and foreign trade.

We call for tax concessions for Australian shipowners consistent with international standards and for strengthening the single and continuous voyage permit systems to prevent the abuse that became chronic under the Howard Government. We need to campaign for effective utilisation of coastal shipping for freight requirements as well.

Conference calls upon all Branches to raise the level of this work to ensure that shipping is placed on the policy agenda of the Rudd Government and becomes a focal point of community attention of the general public.

Campaign against foreign owned ANL in support of Australian Shipping and Australian Seafarers

Conference calls for increased seafarers training and encourages young people and women to go to sea.

Conference calls on delegates to return from conference with renewed vigour and a clear understanding of the issues and a determination to act in Unity and Solidarity in the fight to save and expand our industry.

2.18 Women in the Maritime Union are still a minority, although our numbers are growing ever so slightly it is important that the union maintains a focus on their development. All delegations to events and conferences both locally and internationally should include women's representatives because they can make an enormous impact. There are many untapped resources laying in wait for the right moment, opportunity or invitation.

2.19 MUA women acknowledge the work done by most sites and branches to include women on their decision making bodies, and applaud those individuals for standing up for women's and all workers' rights on the job and within the maritime industry.

We accept that there is much work to do to further encourage and empower women into these positions.

MUA women commit their efforts towards continuing the YR@W campaign, particularly as parental leave and family flexibility is addressed in the next phase of this organising campaign. As well as maintaining our unions activities for November 25th (White Ribbon Day) and March 8th (International Women's Day)

2.20 The National Women's Committee's involvement in the events described above and many new events will continue to grow as our membership numbers grow. The committee is made up of Rank and File Delegates from all area's of the MUA and is committed to engaging in all forums in support of women's policies which would include family friendly campaigns and assisting in building this militant and progressive union.

2.21 The committee is committed to expanding its interests and growing its active network both nationally and internationally.

2.22 The National Women's Conference has outlined our objectives for the next four years and cement our agenda to increase our involvement and truly validate our commitment to union values and principles.

2.23 We further resolve to strengthen current MUA alliances through our own work, particularly those with other transport unions and relevant community groups.

Youth are the future of the union. The MUA recognises the importance of its youth members and will:

� reject youth wages and supports collective bargaining to achieve uniformed conditions across all industry enterprise agreements regardless of age.

� work to ensure the protection of youth workers in the maritime industry including those who are starting their working lives by:

- Holding union inductions to ensure that young workers know their rights and understand the benefits of being in the union.

- Ensuring youth workers are approached by a union representative when they start in the maritime industry regarding joining the MUA and participate in union activity.

� ensure that youth members have the same rights and responsibilities as all other members in the workplace and union.

� encourage maximum participation of youth members in industrial negotiations at all levels.

� ensure young members obtain the highest skill levels available by utilising both company training programs and the MUA trainer and ACTU training facilities.

The MUA will encourage youth members to actively participate in all aspects of the union to ensure it continues to fight from the front and remain the powerful and united organisation that its veterans and past generations of members have made it. To achieve this the MUA will:

� encourage all youth members within the maritime industry to remain financial members of the union to provide the financial resources required to accomplish the responsibility set out in this policy and the union policy.

� encourage youth members to participate at all levels of the union whether at job meetings, monthly branch meetings, Stop Work Meetings, Branch and National Conferences, and in demonstrations, rallies and all other forms of union activity.

� encourage all youth members to be active and involved around issues faced within the workplace and by the union.

� encourage youth members to write articles and/or letters which can be published in union newspapers, the Maritime Workers Journal, and on the MUA website.

Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) is an important issue which should be continually pursued within the workplace. Young workers are inexperience in the workplace and therefore particularly vulnerable to unsafe OH&S practices. The MUA:

� will actively seek to involve youth members on Occupational Health and Safety Committees.

� will strive to achieve the safest possible workplace for youth members through continually updating and improving workplace OH&S procedures.

� does not support bullying, harassment and violence towards young workers and will enact policies to discourage these problems occurring in the workplace.

The MUA will strive to educate its youth members to ensure they develop a political and social understanding by:

� holding an annual youth conference to deal with a range of youth issues within and outside of the union.

� including youth members in delegations attending meetings, conferences and demonstrations on local, national, and international levels;

� participate in national and international youth gatherings and conferences such as the World Festival of Youth and Students

� participating in various Government and community youth programs where appropriate.

� encouraging youth members to develop links and alliances with young students and youth community activists to develop and extend the rights of all young people.

� educating youth members about and providing support to international aid organisations such as Union Aid Abroad APHEDA and encouraging active participation in projects like the Tas Bull Memorial International Aid Project which raise funds for poverty stricken international communities.

� encouraging youth members to develop an understanding of the social, industrial and political history of the union and working class through all available resources to provide a basis for future union struggle and to provide a basis for ongoing maintenance and development of the union.

The MUA will continue to advocate improvements in young workers conditions and develop opportunities for youth members to be involved in union and community campaigns. With this in mind it is important to campaign:

� involving the workplace, industrial, political and community fronts of activity;

� around encouraging involvement in the bodies and committees within the union at all levels;

� to highlight the importance of international solidarity as a fundamentally important component of working class struggle;

� ensuring that a strong link is maintained between youth members and other youth organisations including political and community groups;

� around the need to provide support to the underprivileged in society recognising that workers and unions have a responsibility to assist community members who are in need.

Unions are part of the community and various social issues affect union members. The MUA holds the view that whatever issues affect the membership are issues that affect the union. With this in mind the MUA will campaign around a range of social issues including, but not limited to, those identified below:

� The use of drugs and alcohol are prevalent throughout the youth of today. The MUA discourages the use of drugs and alcohol amongst young workers and are committed to educating youth members about the effects they have and the danger they place not only themselves but also their colleagues in the workplace.

� The MUA will work to provide social and financial support for youth members and their families in times on need.

� The increasing cost of living putting vast amounts of pressure on young workers. The MUA is committed to ensuring that low cost or free financial support and advice is provided for its youth members through:

� Racism is a destructive tool which disempowers people by devaluing their identity. It destroys community cohesion and creates divisions in society. The MUA oppose racism and will work with other youth organisations to eradicate racism and promote the right of all people to be treated fairly.

� A woman's position in the workplace is still valued below their male counterparts. The MUA is committed to promoting the rights of women and assisting the MUA women's committee to ensure that all women, especially young women, are treated fairly.

� The MUA will fight to ensure maximum levels of youth employment are achieved. We will also work to ensure that jobs for young workers are covered by union collective agreements. We will

Contact	:	Maritime Union of Australia
Phone	:	+61 2 9267 9134
Fax	:	+61 2 9261 3481
Email	:	muano@mua.org.au
WWW	:	http://mua.org.au/

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