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This sector is seeing some early employment results with   Worksite Meetings.
    at  least  2  MUA  members  employed  with  Coral         t was reported that Branch Officials attended a meeting at
    Expeditions. The publishers understand that realistically   Hutchison  worksite  Thursday  last  week.  Among  EA
    it will be near impossible to immediately establish a full   issues discussed and Protected Action plans drawn up,
    MUA crew on the various company’s vessels, but  touting   members  raised  concerns  and  sought  answers  over
    that APT in particular, “hires Aussie crew” is nothing new   rumours  Paul  Petersen  was  being  removed  from
    in that sector, given that has been the status quo till Covid   representing their worksite. The Acting Branch Secretary
    restrictions  on  overseas  crews,  saw  mandated  new    confirmed Paul was being moved and it is reported he
    arrangements.  Coupled  with  the  newsletters  and  BMM   said, “it is my prerogative’ to do so.” Members informed
    meetings which provoked enquiries into the long forgotten   the officials they were opposed to Paul’s removal.
    or ignored sector.
                                                              An extract from a recent Qld Branch News from February,
    If those crews were all MUA members, rather than APT      confirms  a  recent  rearrangement  or  ‘shuffle’  of
    “Employing more than 30 Aussie Crew” …hiring 30 MUA       responsibility, and shows Paul continued to be assigned
    Crew would be cause for great celebration and Branch      to  those  sites  listed  below,  particularly  Hutchies,  and
    News-worthy!  The  aim  is  to  achieve  increasing  MUA   Qube where members have spoken out against attempts
    members aboard those vessels and encourage others to      to  replace  him  from  his  current  official  coverage
    join  and  remind  them  of  the  benefits  of  Union     responsibility.
    membership. A job the Newsletter’s already stated should
    be a combined Branch and National effort.

    Revalidation concerns.
    The issue on revalidations the Qld Branch during the May
    BMM, outlined associated issues, offering what sounded
    like  limited  opportunities  along  with  AMSA  prior
    constraints be met before even seeking upgrades or full
    renewals.  It is in stark contrast with the W. A. Branch
    solutions.
                                                              It is reported that similar warnings were presented to P.
    The  April  edition  of  the  W.A.  “Maritime  Workers  First”   Gallagher at an AAT meeting, and it begs the question,
    eBook describes a “Hardship Training” for members at      why  is  it  being  done?  Again,  the  concerns  of  R&F
    ‘no  cost’.    The  article  Shows  “over  40  applicants”   members  are  being  ignored  in  yet  another    decided
    successfully completed their training revalidation via the   ‘shuffle’.
    ‘hardship fund’.. Seems Qld Members should seek similar
    consideration  from  the  W.  A  Branch  than  the  slow,   Not much credibility now remains in the officials’ appeal
    secretive selection from Cannon Hill offerings.           late last year seeking to  distance themselves from the
                                                              style of Steve Cumberlidge and asking members they be
    Delegate Training and Committee meetings.                 judged on their own merits. It is our understanding Paul is
    While  upgrade  training  in  Delegate’s  roles  or  HSR  is   due back in Office next Monday.
    always welcome, the outlined dates, and the scheduled
    Branch Committee again triggers issues concerning the     For Paul Petersen to also hear of an impending trip to
    current legitimacy of the Branch Committee structure and   Gladstone next Tuesday, by  an MUA member, and not
    its election processes.                                   from the Acting Branch Secretary, or to be included in any
                                                              prior discussion and decisions about it, again illustrates
                          Given the statement in the photo,   the Stalinist method of decision and management style
                          it  is  surprising    there  was  no   similar to Cumberlidges’ autocratic manner and ‘appears
                          inclusive information  in the Branch   its business as usual.’  And yes, judgment awaits in 2023.
                          News on progress with the recent
                          task-Force           discussions?   Future of Branch Secretary S. Cumberlidge.?
                          Information  provided  during  the
                          May     BMM      indicated   that   A  previous  Newsletter  referred  to  enquiry’s  during  the
                          optimistically,  it  could  take  18   May  BMM  about  Steve  Cumberlidge’s  future  and  any
                          months  to  two  years  to  arrive  at   news on Carol Conlon’s case.  No honest enlightenment
                          some principled framework, before   was given then or still on S. Cumberlidge’s future return if
                                                                                             rd
    any  agreed  plan  is  implemented.  We  understand       at  all.    12 months  ago, June  3 ,  Carol  was  sacked  by
    Government machinery  and decision making  is slow but    Steve Cumberlidge. She deserves our thoughts for the
    another  possible  2  years  without  tangible  results  is   way such a sacking took place.
    appalling.
    We hope the comments above don’t  indicate as possible    That and other associated issues triggered off protests
    a  similar    but  narrow  outcome  to  previous  attempts   over  a  ‘final  warning  letter’  and  a  Petition.  Retribution
    nationally,  which sought an Australian second registry.   came  in  the  manner  of Police  calls  and  charges  by  S.
    The  only  requirements  and  commitment  for  Australian   Cumberlidge upon a R&F member. Special meetings still
    crewing then was to engage  only an  Australian Skipper   not called, and no difference in operational style by all the
    and Ch/engineer.                                                   Page.3.   ‘acting’ participants since and none likely till 2023.
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