By Stephen Jolly
The wharfies dispute at Webb Dock in Melbourne is the most important industrial dispute in Australia for years. After two false starts at Cairns and Dubai (thanks to international union solidarity), the fight is on for real.
Not content with the concessions granted by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) during the last Labor government that equal $200 million a year and saw 4000 wharfies lose their jobs in the last seven years, the National Farmers’ Federation wants more. If the new scab firm P&C Stevedores succeed as a viable non-union business there is no doubt the two main companies in the industry - Patricks (which leased No.5 Webb Dock to P&C) and P&O - will follow suit. As the Financial Review said ‘the big question is whether either Patrick or P&O might be tempted to follow the lead and replace its MUA workforce with a non-union labour force.’
But this dispute is not just an attempt to smash the MUA and union rates of wages and conditions on the wharves. It is also about setting a precedent for all trade unionists; if the MUA goes down it will encourage other employers to take on even the strongest of unions.
Proof of this is shown by the vast sums of money the NFF is willing to pay to break the MUA - far more than they would reap from the ‘benefits’ of a non-union workforce. The ACTU has pointed out that the three month contracts of $25,000 each offered to scabs to work on Webb Dock equal $100,000 a year - far more than the wages of MUA members.
For the Prime Minister, this dispute is also about being seen as a strong leader in the run-up to the federal election - especially important as it looks likely he will have to grudgingly accept a Republic.
The bosses’ tactics in this dispute are clear. They can’t use either Patricks or P&O to bring in non-union labour as this would break agreements for the MUA and allow the union to undertake legal industrial action. Therefore a new company was established with massive financial backing from the NFF. The Financial Review pointed out ‘it has some fighting fund money that doesn’t need to be repaid or serviced, and, unlike a normal company, it can afford to be ‘at war’ with the entire union movement.’
The federal government has also waded in with political and now financial support, offering taxpayers’ money to help pay for redundancy packages for wharfies.
After a period of training scabs, the NFF want to set up P&C Stevedores as an island of scab labour in a sea of MUA labour on Melbourne docks. Aiming to undercut union-organised wharves, they hope to spread the cancer of scab labour throughout the industry.
Howard’s anti-union laws have made the MUA and ACTU leadership fearful of being fined if they start the type of mass strike action that would have been used in the past. Instead they are hoping blacking of scab-loaded ships by the International Transport Workers’ Federation-affiliated unions will put P&C Stevedores out of business. But now Federal government lawyers are investigating if even this is illegal as ‘it’s a strike affecting Australian trade, it’s for reasons other than those specified in the act and it’s specifically banned by the Trade Practices Act.’
In the short term, the NFF is desperate to provoke an incident on the picket. The stone-throwing incident by a frustrated MUA member was blown out of all proportion by the media, the government and the NFF. There has been the provocative use of army and ex-army personnel as private security armed with prison batons, obtained illegally from the State government.
The only real injuries on Webb Dock so far have been not on the picket, but inside amongst the scabs and private security. Several times ambulances have had to go inside to take away injured people. The evidence of a would-be P&C trainer who turned pro-MUA exposed the horrendous health and safety conditions on site. This shows what conditions would be like for workers if the MUA was wiped out.
At the moment the union is playing it clean, not stopping trucks, equipment or private security entering or leaving the site. Solidarity action is coming in the form of money, a mass rally, messages of support, and attendance on the picket. The ACTU agrees with this approach. The union strategy is to contain the dispute to Webb Dock.
There are two possible ways to win the dispute:
If the law says its illegal to undertake the democratic right to strike to defend the union and hard-won wages and conditions, then it is an unjust law. Unjust laws must be broken in order to make just laws. This is how the union movement was built in the first place. Remember it was once illegal for women and Aboriginal people to vote!
The wharfies have inspired people throughout Australia with their brave stand. They must be supported. Make sure your union or organisation is sending them regular support. Visit the picket if you can. Spread their message. Go to solidarity meetings and rallies. Be prepared to make a stand for civilised union wages and conditions. An injury to one, is an injury to all!