Vic: Unemployed seamen to protest on Melbourne docks
MELBOURNE, Aug 16 AAP - The dispute over foreign crews replacing Australian workersreturns to Melbourne's wharfs today with protests planned against the CSL ship, Stadacona.
The Stadacona, formerly the CSL Yarra, was at the centre of a dispute in May when theship's Australian registration was transferred to the Bahamas and its crew replaced bycheap Ukrainian labour.
The ship will be returning from Queensland, the scene of angry protests earlier thismonth when five former crew members were arrested on Gladstone wharf.
A group of unemployed seamen are expected to protest against the ship when it docksat Fishermen's Bend Wharf.
ACTU President Sharan Burrow said Australia's merchant shipping industry was beingwiped out by the federal government's policy of allowing more ships such as the Stadaconaonto domestic trading routes.
"Countries like Britain and the US act to limit the use of flag-of-convenience ships,but the Howard government is issuing more and more permits for these vessels to work onAustralia with low-wage foreign labour," she said.
AAP svm/rs
KEYWORD: CSL
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