Matters survives dismissal calls
By Christopher Perkins
and Bernie Brian
WOLLONGONG — South Coast Labour Council secretary Paul Matters has survived calls for his dismissal following widespread anger over his public allegations of wrongdoing on the Port Kembla waterfront. Many unionists were angered when Matters relayed bribery and corruption allegations to NSW Police Minister Ted Pickering without consulting his executive or maritime unions.
Pickering has threatened criminal proceedings if sufficient evidence is available. Incongruously given the anti-union record of the NSW Liberal government, Matters told the June 20 Illawarra Mercury that he had reported to Pickering rather than local police because, while he respected "the rank and file of the Wollongong Police ... I am not prepared to have the investigation turned into a witch-hunt against trade unions".
Matters claimed the high commissioner for Cyprus and the owners of a Cyprus-registered coal ship had complained to him that they were overcharged for repairs and were forced to pay a $20,000 bribe which would eventually go to a Wollongong union before the ship was allowed to leave the harbour.
The shipowners had been forced to dock the ship for extensive repairs after its crew made safety complaints to local unions. Matters also called for a thorough investigation of port activities by the federal government.
The seven unions that make up the Port Kembla Ports Committee angrily rejected the allegations, and the Seamen's Union began seeking Matters' dismissal for misconduct, neglect of duty and actions likely to damage the Labour Council.
Some affiliated unions, including the ironworkers (FIMEE), the metalworkers (MEWU) and the Miscellaneous Workers Union, are also angry that Matters has not presented an audit of Labour Council finances for two years, and are withholding affiliation fees.
However, at an eleventh hour executive meeting, and following the intervention of maritime union national officers, the Seamen's Union withdrew its proceedings against Matters for the sake of Labour Council unity. In return, Matters released a four-point statement accepting that, while believing he had acted in the best interests of the Labour Council, he should have consulted local unions before making the allegations. The statement also says no trade union member had been involved in corrupt practices and unions had an obligation to take action against unsafe ships and exploitative shipping companies.