Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 15:46:33 +1000
From: pmargin-AT-xchange.anarki.net (Profit Margin)
Subject: AUT: ABC - Future of MUA workers remains uncertain


just back from the rally mentioned below. If the police say 75,000, I
imagine it was somewhat bigger . . .
____________________________

                   Future of MUA workers remains uncertain
[ABC Australia - OnWed, May 6, 1998
 [space]

[Latest Bulletin]  It remains uncertain if Maritime Union of          [Image]
[Newslink]         Australia (MUA) members will return to work at
[Radio Australia]  Patrick Stevedores today.
[State News]
[Business News]    The union is refusing to go back unless security guards
[Sport News]       employed by Patrick are removed from terminals around the
[Olympics news]    country.
[Rural News]
[Features]         The MUA says the presence of the security guards
[Weather]          contravenes Federal Court orders and increases the risk of
 [space]           confrontation.
  [Regional News Service]
 [space]           But the Federal Court has refused to hear the union's
 [space]           concerns, with Justice Tony North saying he did not want to
[ABC News Guide]   hear any political statements in the court.
[About This Site]
[Search]           This afternoon, Patrick Stevedores said the administrators
                   of the four labour hire companies employing the MUA workers
                   had agreed to allow a minimal number of its existing
                   security personnel to remain on its docks.

                   A company spokesman says the security is required for the
                   safety of its managers and equipment valued at hundreds of
                   millions of dollars.

                   Earlier, the MUA said it would only accept a security
                   presence if it was formed from companies nominated by the
                   union.

                   The union is yet to respond to the latest developments.

                   Dubai

                   Federal Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith says new
                   claims about the waterfront training exercise in Dubai are
                   simply a distraction.

                   Mike Wells and Peter Kilfoyle, two of the men behind the
                   operation to train current and former servicemen to work on
                   the docks, say they will swear there was Government
                   involvment from the start, naming in particular Mr Reith's
                   advisor, Stephen Webster.

                   But Mr Reith has again said he did not know about the Dubai
                   scheme before it was raised in Parliament.

                   "Dr Webster says it's not right, he's given me an
                   unequivocal statement about it," he said.

                   "I don't know what the views of Mr Wells or Mr Kilfoyle
                   are, I don't know what representations had been made to
                   them about the Government but I can tell you the Government
                   did not know about Dubai, it was news to me."

                   Inquiry call

                   Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says Mr Reith must
                   step aside in the wake of renewed claims of Government
                   involvement in the Dubai waterfront training scheme.

                   Mr Beazley says there is now enough evidence around to
                   justify a judicial inquiry into the whole affair and Mr
                   Reith should step aside from his job in the meantime.

                   "We've not been dealt with honestly on this by the
                   Government and particularly we've not been dealt with
                   honestly on this by Peter Reith," he said.

                   "There's now enough out there in what people are prepared
                   to swear in affadavits for this to need to be an
                   independent inquiry."

                   Rally

                   In Melbourne, police say more than 75,000 people have taken
                   part in a rally to support the union movement's campaign
                   against the Federal Government's Workplace Relations Act.

                   The protest will continue later this month, when
                   construction workers hold a national strike on May 20, to
                   highlight what they say is an attack on their wages and
                   conditions.

                   Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) president Jennie
                   George addressed today's rally and urged workers to remain
                   united.

                   "Not only are we going to see it through on the waterfront,
                   but this is going to be the beginning of a long campaign
                   leading up to the election to make sure that John Howard
                   and Peter Reith are thrown out of Government," Ms George
                   said.

                   Derek Corrigan, the brother of Patrick Stevedores boss
                   Chris Corrigan told the rally the Workplace Relations Act
                   must go because the wages and conditions of all Australian
                   workers are under threat.

                   "Draconian legislation is still there, so if you're back in
                   your workplace and listening to this think about it," he
                   said.

                   "This is not about the MUA, this is about every worker," he
                   said.

                   [Image]

                      * Maritime Union of Australia
                      * Patrick Stevedores
                      * National Farmers Federation
                      * Australian Council of Trade Unions
                      * The Federal Government's Maritime Industry Reforms -
                        Department of Workplace Relations
                      * Australian Labor Party - Speeches and Policy Documents
                      * Australian Democrats - Media statements

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                           =A9 1998 Australian Broadcasting Corporation

                               Updated: 6/5/98; 2:40:43 PM (AEST)
                    AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours
                               ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)




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