By Zanny Begg
BRISBANE — On April 21, the MUA sent out an urgent message for more people to join the Fisherman Island picket line to stop goods loaded with scab labour leave Patrick's port.
Within two hours, around 500 people, mostly trade unionists, had gathered at Camp Solidarity. Half the crowd went on to the road to block trucks while the other half drove several kilometres down the road to block the train line out from the Port of Brisbane. MUA organiser Bob Carnegie and two other MUA members locked themselves onto the tracks.
The police moved quickly against protesters on the road, arresting more than 50 people.
When news of the arrests reached the protesters on the rail line, the 200 picketers locked arms and pledged to stand firm. A tense stand off followed as hundreds of police gathered down the track and demanded the protesters move. More than 20 paddy wagons and several police buses and trucks arrived to cart protesters away.
As the police and protesters faced each other, an MUA organiser received a telephone call informing them of Justice North's decision against Patrick in the Justice North. A cheer went up and people hugged each other and danced on the track. Sacked wharfies began to talk about getting their jobs back.
The police then warned the picketers that they were going to start making arrests. The crowd discussed the situation and decided to remain since, as the MUA leaders explained, until the 1400 workers are back on the job, the campaign is not over. The crowd was also angry about Premier Rob Borbidge's earlier comment that anyone disrupting work on the port would receive a "five-year jail sentence".
The police then dragged away protester after protester. More than 185 people were arrested and one protester had his arm fractured by the police.
The paddy wagons filled rapidly and the police were forced to load demonstrators into police cars and buses. Those arrested were then driven all over Brisbane as watch-houses filled beyond capacity. Some people were not released for more than eight hours.
Those arrested will appear in court in early May charged with trespass and disobeying a police directive.