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From
Australia
Our good Recording Secretary, John Johnson, traveled with a delegation of 12
PCPA members in March to Australia and New Zealand. Arne Auvinen, PCPA
president, was among the delegates.
The big thing noted by all delegates was the great
hospitality offered by Australians everywhere. It seems to be a tradition among
Australians to stress hospitality wherever and whenever they meet with others or
among themselves. So the trip was one continual round of lunches, dinners and
barbecues. And everything was
first class.
The delegates attended the Third Quadrennial
conference of the MUA (national Maritime Union of Australia). A report by
National Secretary, Paddy Crumlin, stressed "that in the Maritime industry
we must press on our determination to secure stable and permanent jobs, improve
working and safety conditions, recognize growth opportunities and resist any
attack on stevedoring wages and conditions. Most important, 2004 gives the MUA
an opportunity to get rid of the John Howard anti-labor liberal national
government which is committed to destroying the trade union movement."
(Sounds like the Bush administration).
The ILWU delegates were welcomed by the National
Secretary of the MUA Veterans (pensioners) Bill Bodenham to the National
Conference of Veterans delegates from Sydney, Newcastle, Southern Branch,
Melbourne, Hobart, Freemantle, Brisbane and Townsville.
Brother
John Johnson spoke on the activities of the Seattle Pensioners and reported on
the Harry Bridges Chair and the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies at the
University of Washington.
We
visited the Port Kembla retirees. Port Kembla receives the RUSTY HOOK regularly
and Brother Tony Adcock mails us copies of the NMU periodical. Tony spoke at the
May day rally "held in the Town Centre of Wollongong, in recognition of our
commitment to the principle of solidarity with other retiree groups World
wide", according to Kenny McBride. Brother
Adcock mentioned the recent visit of the magnificent delegation from your
country (U.S.) to our shores, and also "the reciprocal messages of support
for each others ambitions of peace, justice and solidarity."
Brother Johnson's report covers many other parts
of the Australian and New Zealand journey, but we don't have space to include
all that we would like.
Thanks,
JOHN JOHNSON.
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