Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 20:17:54 +1000
From: pmargin-AT-xchange.anarki.net (Profit Margin)
Subject: AUT: (fwd) LL:ART:Mass rally supports MUA


This gives a fair idea of the sort of crap that was offered by the official
speakers at today's march in Melbourne. I suspect that there was a certain
degree of cynicism about the Labor Party chair's speech of "we're on your
side, comrades", but I'll leave it to others who might have been there to
offer their 5c worth.

I also doubt the figure of 120,000, although the numbers were certainly
imposing . . .

Steve

___________

>Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 17:50:03 +1000
>From: David Muller <itscom-AT-alphalink.com.au>
>To: leftlink-AT-vicnet.net.au
>Subject: LL:ART:Mass rally supports MUA
>Sender: owner-leftlink-AT-vicnet.net.au
>Precedence: bulk
>Status:
>
>Mass rally supports MUA
>
>South News May 6
>
>Melbourne: More than 100,000 people have taken part in a victory rally
>march in support of the Maritime Union of Australia as dogs and guards
>still remain remain at the Patrick docks despite the departure of scab
>labour.
>
>The rally, which attracted tens of thousands of people blocked several
>city streets outside Flinders Street railway station. At the head of
>the rally, which brought traffic to a standstill in central Melbourne,
>Australia's second city, were  the  newly reinstated dockers. Police
>estimated the crowd at more than 75,000 people  but Union estimates
>say there were close to 120,000 people.
>
>Martin Kingham, president of the Victorian Trades Hall Council addressed
>the rally saying Melbourne's most famous had not seen such numbers since
>the anti Vietnam war protest of the 1970's. He thanked the community
>support against the conservative forces in Australia attempt to destroy
>the union movement. ``Well, we have demonstrated just how determined
>we are today to protect the rights of working people in this country,''
>Mr Kingham said.
>
>A minute silence in the middle of Melbourne's busiest intersection was
>held for Fred Broch,  a retired member of the MUA, who died on April 17
>at the end of his speech to Japanese unions rallying international
>solidarity in Tokyo.
>
>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 rogue 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.
>
>Earlier at Victorian Trades Hall the rally heard messages of support
>from international trade union groups including the British Trade
>Union Congress. Congress general secretary John Monks said British trade
>unionists had been the subject of similar attacks by the former
>government of Margaret Thatcher.
>
>The Ethnic Communities Council of Australia pledged its continuing
>support to maritime workers on behalf of 165 ethnic organisations.
>
>Federal ALP president Barry Jones said the Labor Party strongly
>supported the wharfies, adding that Prime Minister John Howard was
>trying to drive a wedge between different sections of Australian society.
>``The idea is that who ever has control of the largest wedge has the
>power,'' he said.
>
>Bishop Hilton Deacon led a prayer for industrial peace in Australia,
>which had become complicated by  corporate``trickery''.
>
>In the Federal Court in Melbourne today, MUA barrister Julian Burnside
>appealed for further orders on security forces and dogs which remain at
>Patrick operations. "We would say that this is in breach of order
>number four, and it's having immediate and real impact on the ability
>of applicants to go back to work," Mr Burnside said.
>
>
>         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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