James Vassilopoulos

  • Struggle continues as wharfies return to work

    After a month of mass pickets, wharfies are back at work at the major Patrick operations, following the Maritime Union of Australia's win in the High Court. Mick O'Leary, national organiser of the MUA, told Green Left Weekly

  • International solidarity with the MUA

    Thousands of workers are putting the slogan "workers of the world unite" into practise by providing vital solidarity for the Maritime Union of Australia. In South Africa, the Transport and General Workers Union on April 21

  • Howard, Reith must go!

    Howard, Reith must go!In its war against the Maritime Union of Australia, the Howard government suffered a double blow last week. First, an opinion poll showed a big drop in support for the Coalition. Then the current

  • MUA's court victories a setback for Howard

    MUA's court victories a setback for HowardTaking advantage of a seemingly unlimited legal fund — legal expenses are a deduction from taxable income under Australian corporate law — Patrick Stevedores has appealed to

  • Courts, governments attack right to protest

    Courts, governments attack right to protestIn a judgment which could have easily come from Jakarta rather than Melbourne, the Victorian Supreme Court on April 20 issued a draconian injunction against picket lines at the

  • Patrick 'to sack all maritime workers'

    Patrick 'to sack all maritime workers'There is growing evidence that Patrick Stevedores, the company on the offensive against the Maritime Union of Australia, plans to sack its entire work force in Brisbane, Sydney and

  • Two health care systems

    On March 20, the premiers walked out of their annual conference with the federal government after just 90 minutes in protest at the proposed new Medicare agreement. Howard offered an extra $3 billion over the five-year life

  • PARTiZANS magazine takes on Rio Tinto

    People Against Rio Tinto Zinc and Subsidiaries (PARTiZANS) publish a newsletter of the same name. The latest issue contains much useful information. PARTiZANS is the group which produced the book Plunder, detailing the

  • Attacks on MUA escalate

    Waterfront bosses and the Coalition government are investigating the possibility of setting up a non-union stevedoring company in Fremantle. Other measures aimed at the Maritime Union of Australia include the planned

  • War and the ALP left

    When John Howard wished the 110 Special Air Service troops good luck and "god-speed", standing next to him offering bipartisan support was opposition leader "Bomber" Beazley. In 1991, PM Bob Hawke didn't even wait for US

  • Liverpool dockers draw lessons of defeat

    On January 26, Jimmy Nolan, the chairperson of the Merseyside Port Shop Stewards Committee, notified supporters that the Liverpool dockers had decided to end their two-and-a-half-year dispute. After a herculean and heroic

  • Greens, Democratic Socialists back MUA

    Greens, Democratic Socialists back MUAThe Australian Greens have thrown their support behind the Maritime Union of Australia while condemning the Democrats' de facto role in helping out the National Farmers Federation