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Source: NYTimes

Source: USW

MUA boss Paddy Crumlin says he will seek international union support for a campaign against Patrick. Picture: Sam Mooy Source: News Limited.
The maritime union has threatened an international campaign to disrupt Patrick’s Port Botany operations, vowing to “fight to the death” controversial plans by owner Asciano to unilaterally replace employees with machines.
Paddy Crumlin, the national secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, said he would seek the support of the International Transport Workers Federation to co-ordinate a campaign against Patrick, including action at overseas ports against vessels destined for its Port Botany facilities in
Sydney. Mr Crumlin, who is also the federation’s president, said the union would use “every legal, political, industrial and commercial step” necessary to fight the company’s announcement last month that it would cut 270 of its 511-strong workforce at Port Botany by 2014, and replace the workers with automated straddle carrier technology.
The union has accused the company of resorting to the “mean and tricky ways” employed during the infamous 1998 waterfront dispute, when Patrick fired its workforce en masse and...

Source: Working In These Times