Call for urgent meeting about MUA strike with concerned groups

15/11/95

Transport Minister Eric Charlton has called for an urgent meeting tomorrow with representatives of Western Australian industry, shippers, exporters, stevedores, Fremantle Port Authority and the Government to make an appropriate response to the national waterfront stoppage.

"The five-day strike by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), which will bring all shipping movements at Fremantle to a halt and affect every family in WA, is a disaster," the Minister said.

Mr Charlton said Federal Transport Minister Laurie Brereton's lame response that the strike 'was regrettable' demonstrated a lack of backbone by Mr Brereton to deal with an out-of-control group of workers.

"Export cargo valued at around $120 million will be held up at Fremantle and once again WA will be loudly reminded of its reputation as an unreliable supplier," the Minister said. 

"At worst, we may surrender some of our hard-earned overseas customers.

"The CRA issue must be settled through the proper industrial processes and not the knee-jerk waterfront tactics that were common half a century ago."

Mr Charlton said that since September, 1994, the MUA had stopped Fremantle port a total of 15 days and was hellbent on lifting the figure to 20 days lost.  It was an abominable dispute record that reflected no credit on the union.

"Maritime workers earning on average $75,000 per year, are in a privileged position and are being dictated to by a union executive that is without a conscience or a vision for Western Australia," he said.

"The MUA wants to destroy the great benefits and higher standard of living enjoyed by the wider WA community through their persistent poor productivity and shabby industrial performance."

Mr Charlton said the Commonwealth Government must act in the interests of the entire nation.

Media contact: Ian Hasleby 321 7333