The flags have gone but after 136 days (7 August to 19 December 2015) that the picket line ran, the Maritime Union Australia (MUA) has won a heart warming and courageous victory. This and the Federal Public Service in the greater majority voting no to unfair enterprise bargaining agreements, shows, despite increased and sustained attacks in the last two years, the muscle of the unions remains strong in Australia. And by demonstrating that unions/workers are still up to the fight of keeping work conditions at the front of political debate, it gives heart to a new generation of those who believe in and fight for natural justice.
The Hutchinson 97 laid off by text and then locked out in a protracted dispute with one of the wealthiest company's on the planet, part owners of Vodafone. The picket received support from around the globe (See MUA journal Summer 2015-or www.mua.org.au ). Letters from Spain, Jordan, Japan, France, Morocco-to name a few and photos of support from dock workers in Panama and Hong Kong and one Jeremy Corbyn UK Labour Party Leader who is also in the process of being crucified by the English media as too left wing! I was there recently (the UK) and saw the level of vitriol this man faces on a daily basis because he dares to speak about old fashioned socialist values. But at this point it is heartening to hear the support he has in the electorate on this platform from a people sick of spin and evisceration through austerity.
The next battle will be the resolution of the Federal Public Service enterprise bargaining agreements. Toxic contracts the Government wants to impose to strip workers rights and conditions. Done under the smoke and mirrors of moving conditions into policy directed by corporate and operational plans and reduction of permanent jobs for non ongoing positions. And the "Shipping Legislation Amendment Bill 2015" aimed at ripping the guts and jobs out of Australian maritime industry (what's left of it) and at a time (climate change issues) we should be becoming more reliant on strengthening our economy by being sustainable. As Albo (The Right Honourable Anthony Albanese) has said "The Bill, soaked as it is in ideology, sells out the national interest on each of these counts, it will allow overseas-flagged and crewed ships paying workers Third World wages, to undercut Australian operators on domestic trade routes. It will destroy Australian jobs, damaging the economy. It will increase the likelihood of maritime accidents in our coastal waters..." Quite! Eloquent bugger that Albo! And there will be some business person or new right warrior bullshitting us about letting the market decide, competition is good and anyhow we should all be getting these Third World wages dear to Albos heart as then the few can get on with making massive, short term profits at the expense of the many and that bad word "community". Such as is Hutchinson's and those drongos who strip massive profit out of our economy and don't think they have to pay fair tax on these profits. And if they did would we as a community buy into the bullshit of belt tightening and budget blow out to excuse why we are not funding hospitals, schools, universities, every kind of service (health, disability, mental health, aged care) and finding ways to support our indigenous communities live healthier and longer.
So, I take me hat off again to MUA. Australians of the year one and all in my book!
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| Too bloody right!!!! |
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