Page 6 - Newsletter#13 2021
P. 6

Obviously, concerns and opposition from BCT members       He  continued,  “the  construction  division  is  using  its
    about  Paul’s  removal  from  coverage,  as  reported  in   number to dominate the amalgamated CFMMEU, that’s
    newsletter  #12,    along with  their solid  support behind   why we are seeking a pathway to independence.”
    Paul  in  those  members  wish  for  Paul  to  remain  their
    representative,  has had the desired result.              Fremantle  Port  Workers  to  take  a  24-hour  strike
                                                              action!
    This result  means there has been a definite ‘backflip’
    by  the  acting  branch  secretary  who  when  questioned   The  MUA  has  revealed  that  waterside  workers  at
    recently over his then decision, said he would “not be    Fremantle Ports will launch a 24-hour strike over what
    changing his mind” on Paul’s removal from his 6-year      they  regard  as  heavy-handed  actions  of  the  Port
    responsibility for BCT. Maybe  the Branch Executive are    Authority.  The MUA says the stoppage will start on June
                                                                th
    actually listening to the pent-up anger and views of Qld   25  and comes as a response to the financial hardship
    Branch members for once.                                  of workers standing down at the Kwinana Bulk Terminal
                                                              for five hours a day.
    Legal replacement..?
                                                              AS a consequence, it will prevent vessels from being
    It  was  reported  in  the  Qld  Branch  News  #8  that  an   tied up or let go, including at the Patrick and DP World
    ‘announcement was due shortly’ of a replacement for       terminals. The stoppage is the first Ime lawful industrial
    the Qld Branch Legal/industrial officer. Obviously all the   action has extended beyond the Kwinana Bulk Terminal
    “good  work”    Geoff  Taylor  purportedly  contributed  to   in the inner harbour.
    over  the  10  months  of  his  temporary  administration
    position, appears not to have had any bearing on him      Jeff Cassar, W.A. assistant Branch secretary, noted that
    obtaining  that  position  despite  his  ‘legal  assistance’   “Workers at the Kwinana terminal have been suffering
    during that time.                                         serious  financial  hardship  due  to  Fremantle  Ports’
                                                              decision to stand down all workers any time a workgroup
    ACTU seeks to ‘cruel’ union demerger bid.                 undertakes lawful industrial action, essentially shutting
                                                              down the terminal for five hours a day”.
    In Friday’s ‘The Australian’ it is reported the ACTU is
    seeking to frustrate the mining union’s bid to split from
    the  CFMMEU  by  opposing  its  legal  agreement  for  a
    secret ballot of members to vote on exiting the Union.    NZ ups the pressure for a government-run shipping
    The ACTU intervention in the Fair Work Commission on      line.
    proceedings means the peak union body has effectively     https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/125473750/subsidies-
    sided  with  the  CFMMEU’s  construction  division  in    and-governmentrun-shipping-line-should-be-on-the-
    arguing against the mining division’s ballot application.   table--shipping-

    The mining division resolved in March to split from the   expert?fbclid=IwAR04lFDU4bXexSQWrhhfjNiA_aseMb
    union with about 300 delegates representing workers at    j4SHSNZvVrG1MF6OaPXg1fZeQJVKY
    mines,  power  stations  and  coal  ports,  voted
    unanimously  to  apply  to  the  commission  to  withdraw
    from the CFMMEU.                                          The  question  of  New  Zealand  and  what  it  should  do
                                                              about its steadily worsening shipping issues tests Alan
    Mining division general president Tony Maher hit out at   Murphy’s libertarian philosophy.  “I would traditionally be
    the construction division’s tactics, saying the stand-off   the last person to suggest state intervention and setting
    mean the legal proceedings for a ballot application were   up a state shipping line or anything like that, but what
    “likely  to  be  lengthy  and  complicated”  In  a  surprise   are some cargo owners doing? Well, some of them are
    move,  the  ACTU  intervened  in  the  commission         just going out and renting vessels.”
    proceedings,  arguing  against  the  mining  division’s
    interpretation  of  the  union’s  demerger  legislation,  and   Murphy  is  Irish  and  chief  executive  of  international
    backing the legal argument of the CFMEU.                  shipping consultancy Sea Intelligence. Exporters in New
                                                              Zealand  keenly  keep  tabs  on  his  company’s  global
    The  mining  division,  in  its  response,  said  the  ACTU’    freight  measures  and  analysis.  They  are  probably
    submission  was  “nothing  more  than  partisan  polemic   following  his  reports  more  keenly  now  that  ships  are
    that  provides  no  assistance  to  the  commission       starting  to  skip  ports  south  of  Auckland  and  leaving
    undertaking the task of statutory construction before it”.    exporters holding warehouses of un-exported stock.

    Tony  Maher  said  while  the  proceedings  focused  on
    technicalities around terminology, definitions, and rules,   This newsletter is published by Mike Barber (6224) and Jeff Langdon
                                                              (5266/1819)  on  behalf  of  the  Queensland  Branch  R&F  Collective.
    “the key takeout is the determination of the construction   Members wishing to receive Newsletter’s to their own email address,
    division  to  stop  mining  and  energy  members  from    send details to cman45au@live.com.au. You can also go direct to the
                                                              Newsletter  FB    https://www.facebook.com/groups/333788594736508
    having a say in their future”.                            You will need to ‘apply’ We hope also, for contributions and feedback
                                                              in response to editions we publish.  Thanks Comrades
                                                                               Page.3.
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9