Over the last few months, Australian unions have fought against the giant energy and manufacturing company Alcoa as it tried to undercut wages and conditions by importing workers paid at a much lesser rate. The Maritime Union of Australia is fully aware of this ‘Race to the Bottom’ and the use of ‘Flags of Convenience’ ships to break unions and force down working conditions. Just recently an example was documented of workers being put in danger inside the hull of a ship, while in another case, a ship has been allowed in, whose captain is accused of ‘disappearing’ two of its crew members. Against companies like Alcoa, and in a globally integrated industry like shipping, only by workers organising internationally and developing a ‘Global Picketline’, can they fight back effectively.
Over the last few months, Australian unions have fought against the giant energy and manufacturing company Alcoa as it tried to undercut wages and conditions by importing workers paid at a much lesser rate. The Maritime Union of Australia is fully aware of this ‘Race to the Bottom’ and the use of ‘Flags of Convenience’ ships to break unions and force down working conditions. Just recently an example was documented of workers being put in danger inside the hull of a ship, while in another case, a ship has been allowed in, whose captain is accused of ‘disappearing’ two of its crew members. Against companies like Alcoa, and in a globally integrated industry like shipping, only by workers organising internationally and developing a ‘Global Picketline’, can they fight back effectively.
