Maritime Workers: International day of action

Solidarity protests in support of 600 exploited workers employed at Blue Diamond in California, USA, will get under way around the world tomorrow, with MUA members in Sydney and Melbourne converging on Australian importer, Scalzo Pty Ltd.

Blue Diamond, is the world's biggest almond processor, exporting 70 per cent of its goods to 10 countries in Europe, Asia and Australia. But it pays the majority of its workers a miserly $11/hour, has been found guilty of 28 labour law violations.

Workers at its Sacramento plant are members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

"We've got a close working relationship with the ILWU," said MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin. "US longshore workers forced the Colombus Canada ship to turn back during the Patrick dispute in 1998,when we let them know it was loaded by non-union labour. We haven't forgotten."

The day of world solidarity is timed to coincide with the ILWU's national congress in Vancouver, Canada, where Mr Crumlin is guest speaker.

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