Trade Union solidarity across Australia

Across Australia the trade union movement from the ACTU down, has taken 
a stand and organised many actions together with others, in support of the 
independence struggle of the East Timorese people.

Not since the dirty war against Vietnam has there been such trade union 
support for a single cause.

Heading the actions were the bans placed on shipping to Indonesia by the 
Maritime Union of Australia. Although the bans have now been lifted, 
waterside workers and seafarers in many ports around Australia took part.

In Brisbane, Kwinana and Geraldton, action was taken to block the export of 
wheat cargoes. In Burnie it was a cargo of paper pulp.  In Townsville it 
was nickel ore. In Newcastle it was a cargo of grinding balls for the 
Freeport mine in West Papua.

On a broader international front, the International Transport Workers' 
Federation called on all its 500 affiliates to follow the MUA example by 
organising "appropriate protest action against Indonesian commercial 
interests including air and sea traffic from or bound for Indonesian ports 
and airports."

Within Australia most Labor Councils supported the campaign.

Leigh Hubbard, Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council said: "Until 
there are actual peace-keepers in place, the union movement and community 
organisations will not be relaxing the campaign against the Indonesian 
Government. The pressure will now focus on ensuring that the 200,000 East 
Timorese deported from East Timor are allowed to return and that NGOs can 
deliver humanitarian aid freely."

The WA Labor Council called for a boycott of Indonesian products as well as 
participation in street demonstrations.

The ACT Labor Council organised a demonstration outside the Indonesian 
Embassy in Canberra.

The Australian Nursing Federation (SA) reports that "nurses around the 
nation have gathered desperately needed medical supplies" and that major 
metropolitan hospitals responded to the call.

APHEDA, the Union Aid Abroad body set up by the ACTU said that 
"Basic humanitarian concerns require the Indonesian Government to allow 
immediate access to the refugees for goods and medical" supplies to be 
provided. APHEDA called for donations.

The Australian Education Union (AEU) called for a day of Action for Peace 
in East Timor. Teachers and students were urged to participate in a range 
of activities in support of the people of East Timor including contributing 
to the ACTU/APHEDA appeal for humanitarian aid.

The Communications Electrical Plumbing Union (CEPU) called on its members 
to take part in protest actions.

Many other unions were involved in similar actions which demonstrated the 
united commitment and power of the trade union movement once aroused by a 
common cause.

These actions have been proceeded in the past by many similar trade union 
actions of solidarity in support of the East Timorese people and with the 
people of Indonesia as well.

It has been emphasised that actions in support of the East Timorese 
independence struggle are not directed against the Indonesian people or the 
Indonesian nation but against the government and the military which were 
responsible for the invasion of East Timor in the early 1970s and against 
the savage oppression of the East Timorese people since then.

Suffice to recall that it was the then Waterside Workers' Federation and 
the Seamen's Union of Australia which played a foremost role in helping the 
Indonesian people win their liberation from Dutch colonialism immediately 
following World War II.

Many Indonesians became refugees in Australia during the Japanese 
occupation of Indonesia and it was at this time that they and the people of 
East Timor gave courageous assistance to Australian troops who were 
involved in the struggle against the Japanese occupiers.

At the conclusion of the war, the Dutch colonialists attempted to restore 
their colonial power over Indonesia. Australian waterside workers organised 
a boycott of the ships carrying Dutch troops back to Indonesia and 
effectively provided an opportunity for the Indonesian people to rise up 
and win their independence.

Many of those refugees who fought for Indonesian independence were 
subsequently murdered by the Suharto dictatorship when it seized power in 
1965.

Today's solidarity by Australian trade unions with the people of East Timor 
and with the working people of Indonesia who are acting to restore the 
democratic rights and freedoms of the people of Indonesia is a continuation 
of the earlier solidarity actions.