[Paradigm Shift 14 August 2015 4zzz fm 102.1 broadcast by Andy and Ian]
Know our friends, know our enemies
In 2015 global company Hutchisons sacked half their workforce (97 workers) by text message. The union responded by use of community assemblies comprising of unions affiliated with the Queensland Council of Unions – nurses, building workers, clerks, teachers, electricians and so forth.
I was on the wharves from 6 am on the 14th August to witness workers march back to work after a order by the Federal Court granting a temporary injunction against the sacking. The full case was heard later in the month. Hutchison immediately disregarded the court order, not permitting some of the workers illegally sacked to return to work.
Competitors Patrick Stevedores, the employer in the bitter 1998 MUA here to stay dispute, introduced casualisation and automation. In that dispute half the workforce were made redudant and and all entitlements were lost. This was a victory for Courigan (CEO, Patricks) and the federal government who engaged in a conspiracy against waterside workers.
17 years later, the MUA, battle hardened, elected a new state secretary, sweeping aside the more moderate leadership and the resignation of Mick Carr, longtime MUA secretary.
4PR – Voice for the People commemorate their struggle using these clips from speeches given during the dispute.
Music from Phil Monsour and video … see the last frames of this clip.
In Sydney workers were asking to be let back to work. This is strike of capital against the workers orchestrated by billionaire businessmen in Hong Kong.
It is important for the workers to Know our Friends, Know our Enemies in this pivotal dispute.
Interviews
Ian and Andy played an interview with new organiser, Paul Petersen about the dispute.
Bob’s intro at the wharves
https://bushtelegraph.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/bobs-intro-at-the-wharves.mp3
Ros McLennan QCU
https://bushtelegraph.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/ros-mclennan-qcu.mp3
Jade from CFMEU on trade union principles
https://bushtelegraph.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/jade-from-cfmeu-on-trade-union-priciples.mp3
Macca from ETU
https://bushtelegraph.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/macca-from-etu.mp3
Chris from the Miners
https://bushtelegraph.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/chris-from-the-miners1.mp3
Bob on capitalist society and overseas workers
https://bushtelegraph.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/bob-on-capitalist-society-and-overseas-workers.mp3
Playlist
Phil Monsour – One more day than them
Billy Bragg – Never cross a picket line
H-Block 101 – Worker’s wage
Redgum – Killing floor
Glitter Rats – Which side are you on?
Day 102: Hutchison Workers Back Through the Gate
After more than 100 days since 97 wharfies were sacked in the dead of night, an agreement between the workers and container terminal operator Hutchison has been achieved.
A new agreement was voted up in both Sydney and Brisbane today, which will see every worker go back through the gate if they with. As part of the agreement, the union won an extremely handsome redundancy package which will be offered on a purely voluntary basis.
National Secretary and ITF President Paddy Crumlin, who led the talks with the company in the Fair Work Commission, said the new agreement was testament to a more functional and mature approach to industrial relations than the company’s initial attempts to restructure their operations.
“Workers are essential to the productivity and good health of any successful enterprise, and have a social and legal right to be treated with respect and decency regardless of commercial cycles,” Mr Crumlin said.
“Large multi national companies have a particular responsibility, due to their scale and inherent power to have special regard to their treatment of their workers, and should meet the highest standards of meeting those moral responsibilities.
“What started out as a shabby and mean spirited and heartbreaking attack on an innocent workforce by Hutchinson has been translated through the slow building of respect and proper involvement of those workers and the Fair Work Commission under Deputy President Anna Booth,” he said referring to the fact the 97 wharfies were originally sacked by text and email a couple of minutes shy of midnight.
“It became notorious internationally for how not to restructure a business.
“It hopefully sends a strong signal to other big maritime multinationals in the maritime industry in this country at the moment like BHP, Alcoa and Chevron that they are diminished and devalued by the workplace policies of subterfuge and industrial and legal harassment of their workers as a preferred course of action. And that workers will not stop fighting for their rights and the genuine respect from these companies for those rights.”
MUA Assistant National Secretary Warren Smith said it was a momentous occasion that could not have been achieved without the resilience and struggle of all Hutchison workers.
“The agreement is a major victory for the MUA and all Hutchison workers,” Mr Smith said.
“The key components of the former agreement have been retained. The new agreement has cemented the best safety clauses in the industry – in fact any industry. This agreement is a step forward for workers and delivers a victory of common sense over anti-worker ideology,” Mr Smith said.
“This achievement is testament to the character of all the Hutchison workers who have braved wind, hail and shine at the two community assemblies in Brisbane and Sydney and remained united, determined to beat an injustice which was not acceptable in a modern workplace or society.”
“I extend further gratitude to other unions, both locally and internationally, and the wider community for showing their solidarity at the assemblies and through the thousands of letters of support we received. It was because of them we were able to maintain morale for the sacked workers. This struggle was a genuine coming together of the local, national and international.
“Thanks to the determination of the whole of the workforce and their supporters in Australia and internationally common sense has prevailed. This has been a long hard go. We have been forced into a battle with the world’s biggest stevedore and we have won the battle by returning to a mutually agreed outcome.
“We can now move forward with Hutchison in a way that can underpin getting their business back on its feet with and not against those courageous workers are committed to the same outcome.”
Warren Smith Hutchison Dispute
Posted by Ashleigh Telford on November 16, 2015
http://www.mua.org.au/day_102_hutchison_workers_back_through_the_gate#sthash.NRDS35E6.dpuf
One day more! Hutchison workers stand firm
THE HUTCHISON DISPUTE continues.
In the September issue of the Queensland MUA branch news is a letter the MUA wrote which was successful in assisting the union in keeping the protest line at Hutchison’s intact.
Join the community assemblies!
Show solidarity!
Brisbane: Curlew Street, Berth 11
Fisherman Island.
See http://www.mua.org.au/qld_branch_news_14_september_2015