Australian Congress of Trade Unions backs Maritime Union of Australia against Howard Government

Labor Net Report, 5 September 1997

Press reports from Australia quote Bill Kelty, secretary of the Australian Congress of Trade Unions (ACTU), as promising to organise the biggest picket that's ever been seen in this country if a dispute begins on the waterfront.

The ACTU statement follows federal government plans to allow troops and non-union workers to break strikes by the Maritime Union of Australia, a plan reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher's approach to UK industrial relations in the 1980's.

The only promise I make to John Howard is this: 'that if you seek to destroy the MUA we will be there and... you'll have the biggest picket that's ever been seen in this country', Kelty told the ACTU Congress in Brisbane on 3 Sept.

Meanwhile, transport operators in Sydney are seeking further government intervention to end bans on container movement to and from the waterfront by the Transport Workers Union, who seek a 10 per cent wage rise. On 2 Sept, the State Industrial Commission recommended lifting all action but the bans were not lifted. The companies are now seeking orders which would leave the union open to legal action.