Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 14:28:18 -0600 (CST)
From: "Harry M. Cleaver" <hmcleave-AT-eco.utexas.edu>
Subject: AUT: Union busting by mercenaries on the Australian Docks


Folks: When I read the story below, I found it too weird to be true, but
Steve Wright in Australia says the story broke last week. Perhaps the
taking of such extreme measures reflects an even deeper crisis than we
have perceived with respect to the Liverpool dockers and the international
circulation of their struggles.  As a general rule it is often the case
that the degree of repression measures the degree of resistance and
struggle.

Harry


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 05:53:29 -0500 (EST)
From: Andrew Flood <andy-AT-tao.ca>
Reply-To: a-infos-d-AT-tao.ca
To: a-infos-AT-tao.ca
Subject: (en) Union busting in Australia


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Joint Media Release
ACTU and Maritime Union of Australia

Wednesday 3 December 1997
--
Sandline-style mercenaries fly to Dubai for waterfront training

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and the Maritime Union of
Australia (MUA) today said they had received information that a group of
ex-military personnel was being recruited and trained as mercenaries for
work on the waterfront. Part of the group is to fly out of Melbourne
tonight bound for training on the Dubai waterfront.

MUA National Secretary John Coombs and ACTU Assistant Secretary Greg
Combet said that they had been advised that:

* Two former SAS commandos were responsible for recruiting up to 70
mercenaries who will travel to Dubai for secret training.

* The secret training will be carried out in Dubai by a mysterious
Australian company known as International Port Services Training Group Pty
Ltd.

* The initial force is to leave for Dubai on 3 December from Melbourne at
8:45 pm, flying with Emirates Air, with additional personnel leaving on
the
7th (Melbourne) and 10th December (Perth).

* The mercenaries will return on 28 February next year.

* Visa and passport arrangements are being facilitated by the Government.

* Upon returning to Australia the mercenaries would soon commence work on
the waterfront, replacing existing Australian workers.

* The shadowy company which will employ the mercenaries, Fynwest Pty Ltd.,
was offering individual employment contracts (Australian Workplace
Agreements) under Peter Reith's Workplace Relations Act.

* Some Government members were aware of the secret plan.


The sources of the information did not want to be publically identified,
for fear of their safety. The claims are therefore being treated with
caution by both the ACTU and MUA. Subsequent investigation has however
verified the existence of the two companies identified above. A Mr. Mike
Wells and a Mr. Peter Kilfoyle are directors of both companies. Both are
believed to have an SAS military background as commandos.

Mr. Wells also placed an advertisement in The Army newspaper on November
13 (see attached) seeking applicants for 'jobs' in land transport
activities clearly referable to the waterfront.

The MUA and ACTU have also obtained a copy of an individual employment
contract which is being offered by Fynwest, which clearly reveals that the
mercenaries are to work in the stevedoring industry. The information also
indicates that further training will be undertaken in New South Wales in
March 1998 in conjunction with a further 120 to 180 'trainees'.

Both the ACTU and MUA expressed shock in response to the information. Mr.
Coombs said that he hoped initially that the information was wrong, but
that the union now had enough evidence to demand confirmation or denial of
the plan from the Government.

"Enough information has been provided to cause the union serious concern,
especially given the well documented hostility of the Government to the
MUA. If this is true, and the Government is involved, it would be a
national scandal because both the ACTU and the MUA have recently met with
Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith in discussions described by him
as frank and constructive," said Mr. Cooms. "We approached those
discussions in good faith, and I hope Mr. Reith did as well."

Mr. Coombs said that he would be calling for calm amongst MUA members, and
the continuation of work as usual. He also called on the stevedoring
employers, P&O and Patrick Stevedoring, to publically denounce the secret
plan.

ACTU Assistant Secretary Greg Combet said that the ACTU was treating the
claims with caution, but that there was enough evidence to cause
widespread alarm in the union movement and the Australian community.

"I certainly hope that para-military operations like this would never be
contemplated in Australia, but the documents and information received to
date all provide a sufficient basis for us to bring this to the attention
of the community.

"The secret plan has the potential to cause explosive industrial
disputation, and only the most reckless and irresponsible people could
possibly be associated with it. It is categorically un-Australian, and
will be met with horror," said Mr. Combet.

Mr. Coombs and Mr. Combet said that the ACTU and MUA noted the denial by
Government members in Question Time today of knowledge of the plan. They
said however that there should be a full investigation of the issue and
condemnation by the Government of the possible use of industrial
mercenaries on the waterfront. They also said that the following questions
needed to be answered in any investigation of the issue:

* Do any members of the Government have knowledge of or any involvement in
the secret plan?

* If so, for how long? What is the objective?

* Have any public funds been used to finance the operation?

* Has a senior officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade been
involved?

* Have any serving members of the armed services been involved?

* Have any of the consultants reports to the Government concerning the
waterfront, particularly the ACIL Report and the reports associated with
Dr. Webster (a current consultant to Mr. Reith), canvassed such plans?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
       International Anarchism
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/inter.html

        Irish Struggles
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt


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