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Issue No. 135 | 10 May 2002 |
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The Costs of War
Interview: Squaring Off Industrial: Heroes Betrayed History: At The Coalface International: Wobblies With Chinese Characters? Politics: Dancing with Trotsky Economics: You Are What You Eat Poetry: Alexander's Bragtime Band Satire: Stott Despoja Celebrates Engagement With Minor Party Review: Painting Paradise
The Soapbox The Locker Room Postcard Bosswatch Week in Review Tool Shed
 Heaps and Heaps of Hate MailNo ChoiceWho Rules Australia?No Wrap for Song Comp Abbott's Contempt
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News Gun-Runners Threaten Aussie Coast
As the stand-off on the CSL Yarra entered its second week, pressure built on the Howard Government to secure the future of Australian shipping. The Australian crew of the Yarra are holed up at Port Pirie, refusing to leave the ship after the company sold the vessel to a Bahamas-based holding company and announced plans to replace the crew with low-wage Ukrainian seamen. The captain has left the ship and power supplies have been cut, but the crew remain determined to stick it out, despite threats of legal action. MUA officials have been backed by the ACTU and Australian Workers Union, whose members at Adelaide Brighton Cement are responsible for unloading cargo from the Yarra's sister ship, the CSL Pacific. Talks today with unions, CSL and Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson failed to make headway, but public pressure for a political resolution to the stand-off is growing. Barrels of Weapons The MUA argues that opening the coast to Flag of Convenience shipping does not just undermine Australian jobs, but Australian shipping as well. Reports from Lloyds List of London today state that Panama has ordered the arrest of the Panama-flagged bulker Otterloo for international arms trafficking. The Nicaraguan and Panamanian governments are investigating the Otterloo's shipment of 14 containers of arms which left the Nicaraguan port of Rama in November, 2001, destined for Panama and the country's national police force, but were diverted to Colombian paramilitaries. The ship remains at the Atlantic port of Colon. Panama runs the largest Flag of Convenience fleet in the world and has also been involved in a government inquiry in recent years after the International Transport Workers' Federation publicly demonstrated how unqualified people could buy officers' papers over a fax machine Maritime Union national secretary Paddy Crumlin, described Port Pirie as the new Woomera. Mr Crumlin said the dispute made a mockery of Government's so called 'border controls'. "They don't mind if they're marching Australian workers into the courts but they're not interested at all in applying the Immigration Act, the Customs Act, the Workplace Relations Act or Australia's taxation laws," Crumlin says. Workers Speak Out Meanwhile, the workers on board have released an open letter to John Anderson: "A letter to Transport Minister John Anderson urging a change in the government policy of promoting flag of convenience shipping and guest workers on our coast from the MUA crew of the Yarra: "Mr Anderson, This morning the crew of the CSL Yarra are still on board the ship despite all attempts to remove us. We have no power, cooking facilities nor toilets. "We do not like being on board in these conditions but the alternative is to walk away from our livelihoods and our futures. "We are Australian workers who contribute to our communities in every way. We share hopes and dreams for our kids and expect that we will be able to provide for them as they grow into adults. "We pay taxes and in return demand from our elected representatives an honest government that will put the best interest of our country and people before any other concern. "We are taking this stand on the CSL Yarra in the hope that we can draw attention to the fact that under your government's policy you open the door for foreign shipowners to take over a proud Australian industry - one on which our society has relied upon for over 200 years. "We are taking this stand for Australian men and women and for future generations. "We are taking this stand because we refuse to watch the red ensign of our Australian maritime heritage being replace with a flag of convenience. "Mr Anderson, we urge you to reconsider your position toward us and everyone remotely connected to our industry. We assure you that our resolve to save Australian shipping will not waiver. Signed by all the MUA members on the CSL YARRA"
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