Hutchison wharfies log of claims and international solidarity on safety

Submitted by Janet on 1 July, 2018 - 12:33

MUA Queensland Branch newsletter of 29 June 2018 carried this report on the log of claims for a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. Indonesian dockers leader Suryansyah Bahar from JICT Hutchison in Indonesia participated in the meeting. The unions intend to coordinate "a regional safety committee to build the capacity of wharfies to fight against Hutchison’s poor international safety record and union busting activities. The spirit of unity and cooperation between workers in Australia and Indonesia can only benefit both groups of workers."

Statement from Brisbane and Sydney Hutchison MUA EBA Committee

Workplace leaders from Hutchison Terminals in Sydney and Brisbane met in St. Georges Basin on the 19/20 June to plan and coordinate our joint and unified efforts around the struggle for a new EBA at Hutchison.
Hutchison is a huge multi-national global terminal operator. It is highly profitable and has a poor track record on union and human rights in their terminals. Hutchison organises on an international scale across its international terminals. Hutchison workers will now be escalating our own internationalism and solidarity with other Hutchison workers internationally to stand up to the bullying and power of this giant stevedore.
The united committees developed a strategy along with Branch Officials and National Office, to ensure the log of claims is achieved. We recognised that the fight for justice since the lockout has been difficult and therefore the Enterprise Agreement needs significant changes to ensure that our rights and interests are enforceable. Particular attention will be focused on building regularity in fixed rosters in both ports, improved safety initiatives, ensuring policies are agreed, better dispute resolution procedures, and a package of wages and conditions that workers in both ports deserve.
The committees finalised the log of claims which will go back to the membership for endorsement in meetings, the coordinated approach will incorporate a number of different strategies including a communications plan to update members and better manage the negotiations. These are your claims, your negotiations, your wages and conditions. It is essential that all members consider themselves part of the campaign to secure our rights and interests, we are MUA and it is our EA.
In an historic first, Indonesian dockers leader Suryansyah Bahar from JICT Hutchison in Indonesia participated in the meeting, linking the struggles of wharfies in Indonesia and Australia. It is the intent of the unions to coordinate a regional safety committee to build the capacity of wharfies to fight against Hutchison’s poor international safety record and union busting activities. The spirit of unity and cooperation between workers in Australia and Indonesia can only benefit both groups of workers.
A regional safety committee is considered a necessary step to combat HPA’s attitudes on safety. There have been too many deaths and serious injuries in Hutchison terminals across the region and workers have now determined to take safety into our own hands and organise to ensure we survive the profit driven intentions of HPA.
We note that Hutchison Ports has sacked Indonesian wharfies by text message using the same anti--‐people measures used in Australia that seem to be favoured by this employer. Hutchison have also used state sponsored terror and armed military police to repel workers struggles in Indonesia. Hutchison workers in Australia see this as a direct attack on ourselves.
The meeting committed to the continued building of solidarity and unity between workforces in Brisbane and Sydney as well as with Hutchison workers internationally.
We recognise that we will only succeed in this struggle against Hutchison by embracing internationalism and fighting. We commit to this approach. The meeting considered the log of claims that forms the basis of the demands for the next round of EBA negotiations. The union committees in terminals in Brisbane and Sydney are highly united around the claims which will aim to have both terminals operating on the same standards and conditions at work.
This agreement is for all Hutchison workers and all members are urged to get behind their committees and negotiators and be prepared to fight for the best possible position that can be delivered through these negotiations and EBA campaign.

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