Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 22:14:07 +1000
From: pmargin-AT-xchange.anarki.net (Profit Margin)
Subject: AUT: LL: ART: War on the Wharfies 4 May update


as is clear below,  the wharfies have not yet won - now it's up to the
voluntary administrators to decide how the labour supply companies might be
made "economically viable" . . .


>Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 21:39:06 +1000
>To: leftlink-AT-vicnet.net.au
>From: takver-AT-onaustralia.com.au
>Subject: LL: ART: War on the Wharfies 4 May update
>Sender: owner-leftlink-AT-vicnet.net.au
>Precedence: bulk
>Status:
>
>
>News Summary - Monday 4 May
>War on the Wharfies Homepage:
>http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm
>
>CONTENTS
>(4/5/98) High Court Decision supports union
>(4/5/98) From the Picket Line 4 May 1998
>
>Visit the LabourStart Site (MayDay page) for a free Windows
>ScreenSaver (1.2MB zipped) featuring photos from the War
>on the Wharfies Website, amoung others.
>http://www.solinet.org/LEE/labourstart.html
>
>
>News Summary - Monday 4 May
>----------------------------
>High Court Decision supports union
>
>The High Court Judgement :
>http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/high_ct/1998/30.html
>
>The full bench of the High Court has rejected the appeal by Patrick
>Stevedores and has fully vindicated Justice North of the Federal Court
>in
>his Federal Court interim order to reinstate all the dismissed wharfies.
>
>The Court decision was 6 in favour and 1 against upholding the order by
>Justice North. It is nearly 4 weeks since the workers were dismissed on
>the night of April 7, when security guards and attack dogs in a military
>
>style operation stormed Patrick wharves around Australia to physically
>evict workers while they were doing their jobs.
>
>Chief Justice Sir Gerard Brennan told the court it is not the High
>Court's
>ruling, but a decision to resume trading, that may see the employees
>return to work. This places the decision and responsibility for the
>reinstatement of the workers firmly into the hands of the
>administrators.
>The administrators are still seeking startup funds to enable
>commencement of trading, including pursuing money owed to the
>companies by other companies in the Patrick Group. Mr Brook, one of
>the administrators, said "We're not compelled to hire anybody. We're
>now able to dismiss the employees if that is the appropriate decision
>or employ others if that is the appropriate decision. Under the
>corporations law, voluntary adminstrators have very wide powers in
>dealing with a company and we're now entitled to use them." Peter
>Reith has scheduled a meeting with the administrators tomorrow.
>
>This afternoon, Chris Corrigan announced that Patrick Stevedores is
>providing $3.6 million to the administrators of its labour hire
>companies
>to restart trading.
>
>Hundreds of MUA members and supporters gathered outside the court in
>Canberra. John Coombs said "I think it's fair enough for me - because
>I'm sure the boot would have been on the other foot if we'd have lost -
>to call for the resignation of Peter Reith from the Cabinet. He should
>resign from that position and allow someone to be in there who
>recognises that there are two sides to every one of these pieces of
>legislation. Freedom of choice means you have freedom to join a
>union and you cannot be sacked as a result of that freedom of choice
>being applied."
>
>John Coombs emphasised that the victory could not have been achieved
>without the support of the rank and file of other unions. "I want to
>thank
>them and hope that they'll stay with us for as long as it takes to get
>the
>funds from the banks. And I call upon the banks to recognise a
>decision - 6-1 in the High Court - the funds should be made available
>for our people to be reinstated. And they should do it immediately."
>
>(Source: ABC 4/5/98)
>
>>From the Picket Line 4 May 1998
>
>12.30pm. East Swanson Dock, Melbourne.
>
>Two thousand people gathered at the community assembly at East
>Swanson Dock to hear the news and listen to speakers and music. The
>High Court decision is another major moral and legal victory for the
>Maritime Union against the union busting campaign of Patrick and the
>Federal Government.
>
>(Source: Takver 4/5/98)
>
>Sydney - Rally at Darling Harbour
>
>Jennie George, ACTU president addressed jubilant wharfies and
>supporters at Darling Harbour in Sydney after the decision. "We've still
>
>got some way to go. It is not all over - we've had a great moral victory
>
>again today. We've had the rule of law rule on the side of ordinary
>working people against the might of corporate power and the might of
>government. I think it is an absolute disgrace that a Minister of the
>Crown could have acted in collusion with a company to get rid of an
>entire workforce, in breach of his own Government's laws."
>
>(Source: ABC 4/5/98)
>
>Darwin - May Day march supports wharfies
>
>The Northern Territory Trades and Labour Council's Didge McDonald
>said it is illegal for Territory unions to endorse industrial action in
>support of sacked wharfies. But workers have been contributing to the
>fund to help their families. "We have people ringing up on a daily basis
>
>asking where they can contribute and how they can contribute and
>where our picket line is. So we have to actually tell them that no we
>don't actually have a picket line in Darwin, so yeah there's been huge
>public support."
>
>(Source: ABC 4/5/98)
>
>Brisbane May Day march
>
>Sacked waterside workers took pride of place in the Labor Day parade
>in Brisbane. About 10,000 union members and supporters gathered in
>Albert Park to hear the High Court decision. The decision was broadcast
>live with the reaction to the decision one of relief and jubilation.
>
>(Source: ABC 4/5/98)
>
>Townsville May Day march
>
>At the Townsville port, the sacked wharfies were supported by several
>other unions after the city's Labour Day march. More than 1,000 people
>cheered the High Court decision and emotional scenes followed, with
>union chants and people congratulating each other on the victory.
>Shortly
>afterwards, with a small contingent of police looking on, some people
>started forcing the port's gates. About five men entered the port but
>were
>told to come back behind the picket line by union organisers.
>
>(Source: ABC 4/5/98)
>
>Fremantle
>
>Scenes of jubilation followed the High Court Decision. After speeches,
>MUA members marched up to the police lines at the Patrick gate and
>Paddy Crumlin from the MUA made a plea for them to be allowed in. He
>said: "Will you please open the gate on behalf of these workers, who
>have been cruelly sacked and their families illegally removed, so we can
>
>come back in with dignity?"
>
>A police spokesman congratulated the unionists for approaching the gate
>in a peaceful manner but said they cannot let them in until the police
>are
>given the legal authority to do so. The unionists say they will continue
>
>the picket line until they can return to work.
>
>(Source: ABC 4/5/98)
>
>Burnie, Tasmania
>
>Less than two hours after the High Court victory, Burnie workers and
>MUA members marched to the offices of Mr Miles, their federal member
>of parliament and a member of the Liberal Party. About 40 people,
>waving placards, gathered outside the offices before storming into the
>foyer. Union members are angry over what Mr Miles' lack of
>commitment to Burnie waterside workers throughout the dispute. Police
>have ordered media and supporters out of the office while the talks
>continue.
>
>(Source: ABC 4/5/98)
>
>----------------------------
>War on the Wharfies is an independent web page which
>contains:
>* News reports on the Maritime Union of Australia fight against
>  the rightwing attack by the National Farmers Federation,
>  waterfront bosses, and federal and state governments.
>* News on other union actions and progressive campaigns, or the
>  general attack on workers rights or conditions
>
>Takver-AT-onaustralia.com.au
>         War on the Wharfies - essential links
> http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm
>             http://www.yll.org.au/mua
> http://www.InsideTheWeb.com/messageboard/mbs.cgi/mb63212
>-------------------------------
>




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