on 22/5/02 7:09 PM, Robin Hamilton at [log in to unmask] wrote:

> This has absolutely nothing to do with anything, but I can't resist posting
> it:
>
> http://www.crixa.com/muse/unionsong/u047.html
>
> Could one of the Australians on the list please explain the references to
> me?

Hi Robin,

There was a four-month action between the the Maritime Union of Australia
(MUA)  Patrick Stevedores in the late 1990s which was one of the most
significant industrial disputes of the 1990s in Australia. At stake were not
just the jobs of 1,400 wharfies but the Howard Government's entire
industrial agenda which included smashing the MUA by introducing non-union
labour onto wharves. The Government's action failed, by the way, although
many unionists lost their jobs and the casualisation of the wharfs moved on
apace. Boss cockie of Patricks was Chris Corrigan, a much-reviled character.

Cheers,
Jil


_________________________________
Jill Jones
50 Ruby Street
Marrickville NSW 2204
AUSTRALIA

[log in to unmask]
http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~jpjones