By Jo Williams
MELBOURNE — Every day since the sacking of the Patrick workers, East Swanson docks have been filled with picketers.
The largest picket line runs down Appleton Road and has become a festival of protest and solidarity. Information and food tents fill the spaces between the metal pylons and other pieces of metal used to build barricades against attacks on the picket line.
During the day, mass drills are held to instruct new protesters in the logistics of holding the picket line. As well, over the past week, a range of meetings among supporters of the sacked workers have been organising solidarity actions.
At Melbourne University on April 22, 50 students and staff met and organised a student-staff march to the picket line on April 28.
Ray Fulcher, Melbourne University co-education officer and Resistance member, who helped organise the meeting, told Green Left Weekly: "In the 1927 wharfie dispute, students from Melbourne University were used as scabs to break the picket lines. This meeting vowed that this time, students would be on the side of the workers."
The meeting also discussed a proposal to close campuses down for the May 6 day of action called by the Victorian Trades Hall Council by establishing picket lines at the campus entrances from 8am and holding a student-staff march to meet the main rally at 10am.
On April 22, a women's solidarity breakfast was held at Webb Dock, where the struggle began. More than 1000 women listened to speakers on the commitment to continuing the picket line and the difficulties that the partners and families of the sacked wharfies face. They also called for more women to join the picket lines.