Jul-Aug 2008

First skirmish: Cairns & victory to international solidarity

September 19, 1997: 'Unions 1: Government 0' trumpet the news headlines

Cairns was a symbolic victory. It was the first decisive win against the Government . And it was the first time Maritime Union and the Howard Government actually pitted their strength in combat.

But the open hostilities on Australia's far north coast came only after a protracted war of words. The Government's strategy was to lay siege to the waterfront and engage the Maritime Union in battle by bombarding the media with propaganda. Patrick boss Chris Corrigan and the Government joined forces to peddle the line in the media that wharfies worked under 30 hours a week to earn more than $90,000 a year. They also accused the wharfies of bludging and nicking off the job. Talk back radio reached hysteria. daily headlines backed a 'win on the wharves' and a 'war on wharfies'.

The army was sent to the docks - a handful only in Sydney, four platoons in Port Kembla. Shock troopers conducted exercises on an Australian ship, manhandling an MUA seafarer while they were at it. It was no longer a question of if there would be a fight, but when.

The International Transport Workers' Federation sent a letter of solidarity. reporting that preparations were being made worldwide to establish the defence of unionised labour on the Australian docks: "On behalf of the 500 ITF affiliates, representing 5 million transport workers from 130 countries all over the world we would like express our solidarity with the MUA... The ITF guarantees you all the support you need." Australian unions did likewise with ACTU President Bill Kelty threatening 'the biggest picket line every assembled in Australia's history.'

Then it happened. On September 10 word reached national office that Northern Shipping and Stevedoring, the only employer of union labour on the Cairns wharves, had lost its contract to stevedore cargo for the Freeport mine. International Purveyors, a front company for mining giant Freeport McMoran, allegedly involved with human rights and environmental abuses in Indonesia, would be bypassing MUA labour. The MUA was also aware that former NSS employee Peter Wilson was now and advisor to Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith. The Cairns dispute was, very clearly Canberra inspired.

The Government had chosen a heavy weight to take on the union where it had the least men on the ground. Only seven MUA members had permanent work in Cairns - 29 casuals. And Freeport provided almost all of it.

The union dug in for a long fight, but in fact it was all over in few days.

Under Australia's new draconian industrial relations and anti-boycott laws the union faced hefty fines if it attempted to blockade trade. So the ITF stepped in. Head Office, London tracked down the owner of the vessel due in that week. When they contacted him he said he did not want his ship being used in a dispute that didn't involved him. He wanted to sort the problem out.

The Singapore maritime officers' union, which held an ITF agreement with the shipping company, and the US seafaring and dockers' unions, who worked his other ships, had also contacted the owner. He agreed the vessel would not come in that afternoon. He also offered to act as go-between to sort out an agreement with Freeport. And he did.

By early morning, September 18, the break had come. First the pilots were cancelled. By mid-afternoon the Java Sea dropped anchor at sea. By 3.30 negotiations were complete. Agreement was reached for MUA labour to load the ship when she arrived.

The ITF was the key to ending the dispute. International action bypassed the minefield of provisions dotting federal industrial law - the secondary boycotts and the Trade Practices Act provisions had no effect outside Australia. But the Maritime Union had little time to enjoy its initial victory, before the Government launched its next and most diabolical plot.

War on the Waterfront articles

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Last Modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 19:31:57 EST

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