Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 11:11:36 +0200
From: Hugh Rodwell <m-14970-AT-mailbox.swipnet.se>
Subject: M-NEWS: Oztralia and the Waterfront


Here's another view, from Brisbane this time, raising the problem of
treacherous union and working class leadership. Forwarded from
Marxism-International.

Cheers,

Hugh

______________________________



Things are happening so fast that news of the strike is out of date as soon
as it is read, but there is a dearth of analysis of what is going on.  In
many ways this is because the winning of the strike can come to seem a
matter of day to day urgency and that analysis can be deemed irrelevant and
even unhelpful  However we need to ask what is going on.

For instance we have had the bizarre sight of members of the MUA cross
picket lines to go to work.  Ostensibly they have been hired by PNO the
alternative stevedoring company which is not in dispute with the union.
But the company that sacked the workers, Patrick Stevedoring, does not have
enough scabs so it has sub contracted work to PNO.  In other words, MUA
members have been doing work for Patrick which sacked half the union.

The situation may have changed but this has been as I have said before a
truly astonishing act of betrayal by the union leadership.

I am becoming conscious though that there is a danger that my posts on this
will be seen as a dampener of the struggle.  Nothing could be further from
my intentions.  But I am extremely critical of the way the dispute is being
run and I want to say it now.

It seems to me that there are three levels to the ACTU strategy.

1. Fall back to half of the MUA.  In other words let the sacked workers go.
 Talk loud and long about support.  Turn up on picket lines.  Send food.
Donate money and wait for demoralization to set in and then send some Lefty
with a reputation for militancy to say "Sorry, comrades, but the gallant
struggle is over."

I suspect that this might be a strategy that part of the MUA leadership has
already agreed to.

2. Let the whole MUA go.  as for above.  make blood curdling speeches.
scream abuse but then say one day that it is a terrible tragedy but there
was nothing that could be done.  I think that this is the strategy that has
been adapted by a small group high up within the ACTU.

I am sure that no one in the MUA suspects that this might be a possibility
at this stage.

3.  Work hard for the return of a Labor govt.  This will guarantee the
safety of the jobs of the remaining union bureaucrats. It also entails
legalizing the dispute as much as possible.  If the struggle can become a
matter of court cases then that suits the Government, the Labor Opposition
and the ACTU leadership as well.

However in all the schemes and plans that have been run, the rank and file
have been left out of the equation.   If they seize the moment they can
win, but they will have to break with the ACTU strategy and take the
offensive to the government.  There are signs of restlessness among the men
who have been sacked.  All round this country people expected a fight form
the union movement, and they have got a round of new retreats.  at some
stage something is going to click in the heads of the workers and we could
get a new level of radicalization.


I have no wish to sound defeatist when I make all theswe criticisms. Things
have not yet been decided and it true that the whole country is polarising
in a way that has not been seen since the Governor General sacked the Labor
Govrernmnet in 1975.


I hope Tony and Ken have the time to post something soon, so that we get a
more balanced picture between us.

regards

Gary