Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 09:35:38 +0100
From: Hugh Rodwell <m-14970-AT-mailbox.swipnet.se>
Subject: M-I: fwd: Storemen strike in support of Wharfies


Forwarded from MUA-update, Christopher Anderson.

Cheers,

Hugh

___________________________


                     Storemen strike in support of  wharfies
                    Mon, Apr 20, 1998
 
                    Thousands of members of the
                    National Union of Workers have
                    walked off the job in Victoria in
                    support of the sacked maritime
                    workers.

                    The union says the action will
                    affect the food distribution,
                    warehousing and some
                    manufacturing industries.

                    Victorian branch secretary Dennis Lennon denies the
action is a
                    secondary boycott.

                    "This is nothing to do with secondary boycotts, this is
a peaceful
                    protest down on the waterfront as has been taking place
for some
                    days now," he said.

                    "So our members recognise quite clearly that this is
not just a
                    fight about the MUA (Maritime Union of Australia) but
it's a
                    much broader issue."

                    Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett says police may have to
intervene
                    firmly in the dispute to protect the public interest.

                    In other developments in the dispute:
 

                         Protesters outside the Patrick terminal at
Fremantle are on
                         standby following the threats by farmers to drive
through
                         picket lines.

                         Trade union organisers do not know when an attempt
will
                         be made, but say they are prepared.

                         A code of conduct will come into existence at the
Port
                         Botany picket site in Sydney, calling on
protesters to
                         demonstrate peacefully.

                         It calls for Port Botany to be free of alcohol,
and urges
                         protesters not to spit at or insult people.

                         Prime Minister John Howard has accused the MUA of
                         conspiring with international unions to boycott
Australian
                         exports.

                         Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer has also expressed
                         concern that the ban by the International
Longshore and
                         Warehouse Union in the United States could have wider
                         implications for Australian jobs.

                         Mr Howard has accused Opposition Leader Kim
Beazley of
                         inciting Australians to break the law.

                         He says Mr Beazley's support for the wharfies'
rorts and
                         unlawful practices go against Australia's national
interests,
                         and is the greatest failure of leadership imaginable.

                         The MUA has been warned again by the Australian
                         Competition and Consumer Commission that it is at
risk of
                         breaching the Trade Practices Act.

                         Sacked workers from Brisbane's Patrick Wharves have
                         marched back to their old workplace at Fisherman
Islands
                         overnight.

                         Union organiser Jim Tannock says it is the
beginning of a
                         week of increased action.

                         Federal Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith says
                         Patrick's action against waterfront workers will
not set a
                         precedent for other workers.

                         Mr Reith says claims that other jobs are at risk
of being
                         replaced by contractors are a complete furphy
being run by
                         the Labor Party.





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