Following the formal announcement of the results in the Maritime Union
of Australia’s elections, members of this important union are now
turning their attention to pressing industrial problems and to consolidating
the gains won by its new leaders.
In the election, seven incumbent officials lost their jobs to opposition tickets in WA, Melbourne and Sydney. In contests nationally and in the branches, the official MUA Rank and File ticket won over 40% of the vote, and two of three positions in the WA branch.
An important plank of the MUA Rank and File platform was a pledge to return the union to its members. Central to this is creating a democratic structure to allow all members a say in the MUA and to encourage them to play an active role. Frustration had been building within the MUA because vital policy decisions were being made without real discussion or debate among the union ranks.
Anger has also been expressed about the lack of response by MUA officials to the continuing attack on conditions in the maritime industry. In the face of a rapid increase in the use of casual labour on the wharves since the Patrick’s dispute five years ago, MUA leaders have shown little willingness to challenge stevedoring companies.
Members of the MUA Rank and File have argued for a real fight to end casualisation. Involving members in campaigns for pattern bargaining on the wharves and mounting a legal challenge to employing casual labour to replace permanent jobs is an important start to turning around the pernicious use of “throwaway labour”. Casual labour now exceeds 50% on the wharves.
Congratulations Chris!The Socialist Alliance sent the following message of congratulations to SA national executive member Chris Cain following the fantastic election result for the MUA Rank and File team last month.Dear Comrade Chris Cain, Congratulations on the Rank and File victory in the MUA elections. You and your comrades are set to provide the sort of class struggle leadership that is so necessary in the union movement.Socialist Alliance sees your victory as one for all workers and for socialist unionists in general. We are proud to have supported your campaign and look forward to working with the MUA in future. |
Chris Cain, elected as the WA State Secretary with 58.7% of the vote, believes it is important to unite all in the MUA. “We all have common interests as union members, whether we are seafarers or wharfies, permanent or casual. The employers and conservative governments are forcing us to act in common as they take our hard-fought conditions away”, he declared. “We will no longer meekly cop what they are dishing out, hoping that some time in the future a Labor government will restore our rights”.
Chris, who is also a Socialist Alliance national executive member, recognises the tough road ahead. However, “The election results are showing us there is real anger in the ranks and our members are showing all who listen that there is a real determination to restore what is rightfully ours - decent jobs and conditions.”
The significance of this victory for fighting unionism was clearly understood by the hundreds of jubilant unionists who attended the Rank and File victory party in Fremantle on June 20. Speaking at the celebration, former state secretary of the Victorian branch of the AMWU and fellow Socialist Alliance activist Craig Johnston declared Chris Cain’s victory “a warning to all union officials who feel comfortable in ignoring the building anger in their ranks.” The MUA result, Craig said, “will have all of the time-serving union officials who are just waiting their turn to jump into parliament worried”. They certainly have reason to!