Story and photos by Jane Kelly
FREMANTLE — On Friday night, May 26, the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) won the first round in its battle against the Liberal state government and stevedoring company BAAC, which tried to use scab labour in the port.
State transport minister Eric Charleton, who gave newly formed BAAC the controversial stevedoring contract, reversed his earlier refusal that afternoon in the Industrial Relations Commission to accept the deal put up by the MUA, and recommended by the commission.
Government-owned Stateships will now use unionised stevedores to work the Sina, the ship at the centre of the dispute. This would allow WA ports to reopen while the maritime dispute is further dealt with in the IRC.
The industrial dispute, which closed every unionised port, oil and gas platform in WA, is seen by the MUA not only as a fight to keep conditions for its members, but for the rights of all workers to be represented by unions if they choose to be, and keep their jobs.
Building magnate and BAAC owner Len Buckeridge is well known for his refusal to employ union labour on his building sites, and is on record in the IRC as saying that he will not employ MUA workers, despite years of tough maritime reforms and the 60% increased productivity those reforms have brought to the waterfront.
Attack on unionism
MUA WA deputy branch secretary Dean Summers, told Green Left Weekly that the situation on the wharves was an "outright attack on unionism". He said, "It's not about Buckeridge winning a contract legally and making a living out of stevedoring. It's about Buckeridge ... trying to break unionism, and it's a weapon of Richard Court's Liberal government.
"They're not going to win, but if they were to win and beat the Maritime Union, the whole of unionism in Western Australia, and in Australia, would begin to crumble at a rapid pace."
Joint national secretary John Coombs, asked how the MUA wanted the dispute resolved, replied, "The Western Australian government signed a contract with Conaust [stevedores] to look after the bulk jetties; they tore that up, so they can do the same with this one. It seems there is no real problem with the West Australian government in terms of their contracts."
The State Supply Commission is currently investigating the awarding of the contract to Stateships. It is claimed that the contract was not publicly put to tender and that offers were taken over the phone. The commission's report is expected on Wednesday.
On Friday night amidst victory celebrations, GLW asked joint state secretary Terry Buck to comment on the Court government's handling of the dispute. Buck said, "Their decision in front of the commission today, where they were indecisive in respect to the recommendation handed down by Commissioner Laing, clearly shows that Buckeridge was in charge, and Charleton was the puppet".
Asked what he thought Buckeridge's reaction to the temporary freeze on BAAC's contract would be, Buck replied, "He's going to try and find a way to get back at us. He has never been beaten before, and he's been beaten this time. He's been up against trade unions in the past, but he's never been up against the MUA, and at this stage we've won the first round."
Maritime workers, who had maintained their week-long picket in icy gale force winds and rain, were ecstatic Friday night and sang rowdy choruses of a locally written ditty called "Bye bye Buckeridge".
The workers marched to the gangway of the Sina and gave three hearty cheers for the ship's crew and especially for its master, Ron Gabby. John Coombs told the ranks that Gabby had more to lose personally than anyone in the dispute. He had refused to allow the scabs to work his vessel, and had ensured they didn't by turning off power to the ship's cranes.
Ongoing disputes
The MUA has another ongoing dispute over non-union labour up in Carnarvon. Seven of its members lost their jobs earlier this year when Dampier Salt Limited (DSL), a CRA subsidiary, awarded a towage contract to a newly formed non-union company, Carnarvon Towage Services.
A picket line was formed to prevent the non-union workers taking over the men's jobs, some of whom had worked for DSL for 14 years. Dean Summers told GLW that the "situation got to overkill" with an overly large contingent of police being present, and eight security guards being hired by DSL, who tried to intimidate workers and who claimed to be ex-SAS from New Zealand .
All week Richard Court told the press that there would be trouble down on the wharves and that the police were ready for it. However, it was apparent throughout the dispute that police relations couldn't have been better, with most officers openly chatting, joking and sharing food and drinks with workers on the picket line on the wharf, and on board the Sina.
Summers commented, "I have never seen it in any other picket line where the police come and ask our advice on things. It just encapsulates the hatred that everybody's got for Buckeridge, right down to the police, when he abuses police and expects them to be at his beck and call. As I understand it, he has told them they are 'big, fat, lazy' such and suches, because they are doing their job as they see it."
Spirits are high on the waterfront, as members of the union are even more determined to continue the fight to protect the rights of workers.
Lives at risk
On Wednesday BAAC had brought non-union labour and two cranes onto the docks and begun to unload cargo containers from trucks, ready for loading onto the Sina.
Buckeridge's workers (who took half an hour to start one crane) soon showed that they were quite unskilled. One operator tipped his machine onto two wheels and dropped his container. One machine was overloaded. Another, smaller overloaded crane dropped a container when the brakes couldn't hold its weight, with several workers standing within a metre of it.
A barrage of boos and catcalls from the picket line quickly died out. Although many people were saying good luck if they dropped a container onto a scab's head, the men, who know the dangers of the work, could clearly see the possibility of a serious accident.
Stories were being exchanged about crushed men and even beheaded workers through unskilled labour and lax safety procedures.
Dean Summers said that when non-union labour is employed you get people on the wharves who are not adequately trained. "They are a danger to themselves, they are a danger to the ships and to the industry. Also, their wages and conditions go down, and it's just a master and serf relationship after an extended period. It's just a basic matter of union principle to preserve rights and working conditions for workers."
If no union is present to ensure that safety standards are maintained, safety checks are left up to the Department of Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare, which many unions feel is not adequately doing the job.
Members of the MUA are wondering just how long it will take before one of Buckeridge's inexperienced workers is seriously injured.