By Jane Beckmann
NEWCASTLE — Patrick Stevedores has closed down its Newcastle terminal saying it can't guarantee the safety of the workers. This follows several victories for the picket line here.
The first victory came on April 13 when Patrick attempted to bring in two ships for loading. The linesmen immediately banned overtime, citing an enterprise bargaining dispute with their employer, and the port was closed.
The next day, the ships were delayed for two more hours when eight unionists swam around the ship and the linesmen again refused to dock the ship, this time for safety reasons. The swimmers painted "MUA, here to stay" on the side of the ship.
On April 15, a bus carrying six workers and 15 security guards subcontracted from Melbourne by Patrick smashed through the union picket line, injuring several people. However, the bus was prevented from entering the Pasminco facility by 300 picketers. The company then advised the police it would subcontract the loading of the ships to P&O CONAUST, which is using union labour.
Patrick's Newcastle manager, Chris O'Brien, says the company is confident it can introduce non-union labour to the Newcastle port. However, the picket is gaining more and more community support as many people who have suffered under Liberal and Labor governments over the last decade see a way of fighting back. A meeting called last week by the Newcastle Trades Hall Council to brief 30 delegates, for example, turned into an open community meeting of more than 300 people who agreed to set up an open alliance to build support for the MUA. And so much food has been brought to the picket line by supporters, (who last week included the Bishop of Newcastle, the Reverend Roger Herft), that the excess has had to be stored in the freezer of the local bowling club.