Union bashers come out
One of the corporate union bashers pushing John Howard to deregulate Australian workplaces is facing accusations of anti- competitive practices and the possibility of million-dollar fines for health and safety breaches. Patrick Corporation boss, Chris Corrigan, is one of 20 New Right activists urging the federal government to use its control of both houses to eliminate collective workplace organisation. This week his company was fingered by the head of the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission), Graeme Samuel, for operating a "cosy duopoly" with P&O that delivered higher returns than those enjoyed by other Australian businesses. "According to the stevedores' own figures they are enjoying returns on assets of around 27.8 per cent EBIT [earnings before interest and tax]", said Samuels. "These are well above international rates of return for comparable industries of seven to 17 percent. These rates of return are a direct result of low levels of investment in expanded capacity. "A figure such as 27.8 per cent is something about which most Australian companies can only dream." Meanwhile, the NSW Industrial Relations Commission has reserved its decision on penalties against Patrick Corp after finding the company guilty on five separate occupational health safety charges. Observers at the hearings said evidence of the offences was so strong that the Commission could post million-dollar sanctions over the use of single-operator straddle cranes. A number of workers operating the cranes sustained long-term impairments after prolonged use of the equipment at the centre of the Federal Government's 1998 War on the Wharves. In that dispute, the Howard Government sided with the attempt by Corrigan and the National Farmers' Federation to drive unionised labour off the Australian waterfront and essentially destroy the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA). Mercenaries from the armed forces were secretly trained in Dubai to take over the jobs of MUA members. Attempts to prove a conspiracy between Patrick and the Howard Government, in court, have been repeatedly thwarted by the Government's refusal to produce sought documents. On the very day that Corrigan and his 19 associates delivered their demands for an all-out attack on unions, his company was forced to back off moves to strip conditions from low paid vehicle workers at Patrick's Autocare division. Patrick dropped its demand after 30 Ingleburn employees marched on a board meeting in Sydney. Corrigan and his associates are urging the government to go beyond the seven IR bills defeated by the last Senate to include legitimising unfair sackings. They want an inquiry to consider proposals to make it easier for collective contracts to be replaced by individual contracts; unions to be stripped of remaining legal rights; welfare payments eliminated as a "deterrent to job seeking"; the possibility of repudiating international labour standards signed by Australia. Corrigan has been joined in promoting the wish-list of other high profile anti-worker corporations, many with connections to the extreme right wing HR Nicholls Society. Other signatories include WA building products magnate Len Buckeridge who was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond after assaulting a union member. Buckeridge was last year's winner of the Charles Copeman medal, presented by the HR Nicholls Society. During his acceptance speech he admitted having drawn up a hit list of union activists. Charles Copeman, himself, architect of the notorious Robe River lockout, was another signatory to last week's plea. As were Perth businessman, Harold Clough, who outed himself as the "mystery backer" of Tony Abbott's campaign to have Pauline Hanson jailed; and Steve Knott, head of the Australian Mines and Metals Association.