MUA picket in defence of sacked unionist

SYDNEY — "Captain Cook's a crook" yelled members of the Maritime Union of Australia as 50 people picketed Captain Cook Cruises at Circular Quay on February 7 to protest against the company's decision to sack an employee simply for his union activity. "Conditions on the Endeavour were better", read one of their placards.

Officials from the MUA and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union told the picketers that the union movement could not allow bosses to get away with such action. Several customers turned away in the face of the picket and the company tried to get police to "do something" about the protest.

Alex Bainbridge

From Green Left Weekly, February 15, 2006.

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From GLW issue 656