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Additionally, the Kalmar workforce found it difficult to After 5 long years, Kalmar tradesmen in Brisbane had
obtain support from Patrick operational employees. This finally achieved their union-based enterprise
was put down to a suspicion of workers servicing and agreement, with considerably improved salaries and
maintaining the highly automated equipment previously working conditions. It should never be forgotten; such
operated by Patrick’s own workforce. things don’t happen without workplace solidarity. That
begins with dedicated and committed people like Larry,
MUA Qld Branch Officials of the day were also reluctant along with like-minded, supportive, and competent
to have the workers join the union or support any officials like Paul Sheehan for example.
campaign. Despite many meetings with MUA Deputy
Branch Secretary Trevor Munday over the years,
nothing eventuated. Applications for union membership
by Kalmar employees were declined by the Branch
Secretary, Mick Carr.
It appears there was concern that Kalmar employees
were not employed in the stevedoring industry because
they could be assigned to work on the company’s non-
stevedoring operations as well, despite clear evidence
that apart from one tradesman provided with a mobile
workshop, all others were permanently assigned to
Patrick stevedoring operations.

There the matter simmered for a number of years. Not
unreasonably, Kalmar tradesmen, considered it too
dangerous to take further action without support of the
union or any show of solidarity from within the Patrick We will continue with Part 2 of Larry Foley’s story in the
operational workforce or the ATIVO maintenance next edition of the R&F Newsletter
workforce.
Lies from an MUA Official, Queensland
Breakthrough
Branch Brisbane.
In August 2012, Brisbane based Kalmar employees
appointed Larry Foley as their workplace For the few weeks I’ve been sitting on an email that was
representative, whereupon he presented himself to the sent to me from Mike Barber who was copied into the
MUA Branch Office and despite Trevor Munday’s email written by Paul Gallagher on June 20. The email
concerns, insisted on joining the union and obtaining was sent to all branches , officials ( both paid and
formal recognition as the Kalmar workplace MUA honorary) and organisers of the MUA. The pertinent part
delegate. Larry was the first official MUA (Kalmar) of the email which I intend to answer, is a Quote
delegate in Australia, and within a short space of time, contained in his email.
most of his workmates had similarly joined the union. As
had others before him, he also reached out to Shane “I find it interesting that the R&F publication advice
Jenkins from the Kalmar workforce in Sydney, who went to Mikey (O’Shane) is to acknowledge the other
on to become the site delegate. collaborators, (of it) when a lot of it itself, is
obviously written by Bob Carnegie pretending to be
At about this time, Larry was also contacted by Qld Mike Barber!” - (publishers’ comments for clarity)
Assistant Branch Secretary Paul Sheehan, who while
being relatively new to his official position, was a former This statement emanating from the keyboard of Mr
highly experienced wharfie delegate and determinedly Paul Gallagher is an outright Lie!
keen to support the Kalmar workforce.
Any article I write is signed off by me, as it is my
Kalmar employees at the Patrick Terminal operations in intellectual property. Gallagher’s statement is also
Sydney also began agitating for change and with the hugely insulting to Mike Barber. Mike is an intelligent,
positive support of MUA Sydney Branch Officials, Paul erudite, working class fighter. Mike is more than capable
Keating, and Joe Deakin, this led to the Sydney (MUA) of writing his own articles. There are, I believe, other
Kalmar EBA being approved by the FWC early 2013. contributors to the Rank-and-File publication who do not
put their name to the articles they write.
Matters also changed for the better in Brisbane with the
campaign also spreading to Melbourne as well. That is because they fear retribution from the MUA
Negotiations were held with Kalmar’s Australian Head hierarchy, either in their employment being stymied, or
Office in Melbourne in 2013. The workforce was their good names being put through the mud by the
represented by Larry along with Melbourne delegate, “poison tongues” who sadly hold some positions in both
John Shortis as well as MUA Officials Paul Sheehan, National and State branches of the MUA.
and Bob Patchett of Melbourne. Page.2