Vice President’s Report by Joe Fleetwood National Vice-President I attended the “Globalising Solidarity” conference recently with a Maritime Union of New Zealand delegation. This was the second International Pacific Rim Mining and Maritime Union Seminar, and was held from 22–26 May 2005, in Los Angeles. Maritime Union Assistant General Secretary Terry Ryan and I attended the ILWU Coast Committee for Education, to compare ideas and techniques on educating our union members on the past, present, and the ongoing struggles. Internationalism is seen as a high priority, along with the importance of global solidarity.
Union Education It was agreed to create a combined union education training committee to visit the USA locals (union branches). This group is made up of the ILWU coast committee and MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin. The main topics discussed were the ITF training program. This includes full time trainers, an “induction” package for new members, information on “neo-liberalism” (also known as right wing big business politics), running grievances, how to achieve stability at local levels, and the importance of internationalism. We stressed the importance of monthly stop work meetings, and onthe-job meetings, with union journal delivery to homes, more visits by officials, the challenge of different cultures, health and safety, and inter-port and trans-Tasman tournaments. The time is now to train and organize.
Murder of trade union organizer The conference was dedicated to a good man and defender of working class principles and struggles. Ko Moe Naung (38) of the Seafarers’ Union of Burma was the union organizer for the region of Ranong. He was arrested 19 May 2005 at 8pm, and found three hours later, tortured to death by members of the Burmese Army regiment 431. The atrocities committed upon workers in the impoverished countries of the world must be challenged by all workers.
Rogue Employer An international delegation from the ITF, MUA, Japan, ILWU and MUNZ confronted the ANZDL line that flag out under CP ships. We told them to apply pressure to NYK charterers, and owner Leonard and Blumberg, to contact the ITF and sign the expired agreements onboard his vessels. ITF coordinators for this campaign Dean Summers and Shoji Yamashita delivered a firm message – we do not want to target ANZDL vessels, however, we will not go away, and there is no place to hide. We await reply from the company.
Women in Unions Our sisters stressed the need to have their voices heard and to have their issues addressed. Womens’ issues are workers’ issues: we need to work with our sisters of the working class to continue to promote womens’ and gender issues in our respective unions. Solidarity, sisters!
Security We all agreed to fight the introduction of “chipped” identification cards, locally and internationally. The sinister technology the employers and Governments try to thrust upon us is mind-boggling to say the least. Global operators are invading our basic rights under the guise of Maritime Security and anti-terrorist legislation.
Blue Diamond Workers For 90 years, the 700 workers of Blue Diamond Almond pickers and packers have been non-union. Over the last 15 years they have received an average wage increase of 18 cents per hour. Many workers pay family health insurance of $420 per month. Another example of worker exploitation and corporate greed, but the workers have had enough. They are now in talks with the ILWU, and all going to plan, they will become the newest members of the ILWU family. Workers are realising the need to be protected by good collective agreements which provide decent living wages and conditions, and a career path that leads up, not down.
All unions will continue to support and organize workers in need.
Veterans It was great to see so much participation from the Veterans of the ILWU. They were commended for their dedication to the class struggles. We have inherited a strong and militant past, and must ensure we build a strong and progressive future.
Solidarity A joint tarpaulin muster between MUNZ and MUA rank and file was gathered, and the handsome sum of $6,000 was raised and given to our Chilean comrades in true union fashion.
Congress The ITF 6th Congress is to be held in Durban, South Africa, in mid-2006. Health permitting, this will be opened by former South African President Nelson Mandela.
Conclusion The 2nd Pacific Rim, Mining and Maritime Conference was a great experience, to say the least. There were so many class acts in the form of working-class leaders from many unions and like-minded societies. Workers are struggle based, always have been and always will be as long as corporate greed runs our world. We must identify the enemy, and not turn on ourselves. If we attack each other, we cannot deliver one global voice for world labour. Actions speak louder than words; we must act on our discussions, otherwise the Conference will be nothing but a failure. I believe the workers of today are up to the challenges that lie ahead for us all, and I know we will achieve our goals if we remember the theme of the seminar: “The Workers United Will Never Be Defeated.” On a personal note, I would like to thank the whole of the ILWU family for their hospitality, and the warmth that was shown to us all. You are true friends of the working class. Thank you, and much respect. Kia Kaha, tatau tatau: Be strong, we are all one.
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