Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Bushfires: International unions offer help

The London based International Transport Workers' Federation is
offering to assist victims of the bushfire tragedy, as Australian
unions pledge $250,000 in aid.

ITF General Secretary David Cockroft wrote to the MUA this week
expressing his horror at the scale of the tragedy.

"The ITF family have watched the news of the bushfires in your country
with growing horror," he said. "It is difficult to believe the speed
and scale of death and destruction. We can only begin to guess at how
it must feel for those closer to the tragedy, as well as those
personally affected."

David Cockroft said the ITF was heartened by the aid being offered to
the victims and the groundswell of support among the Australian people.

"But we realise that this is little consolation for those who have lost
so much, so quickly," he said. "To them we can only humbly offer any
help we can and promise that we are thinking of them now, in these
terrible times. "

The MUA has set up a fund to help the communities devastated by the
Victorian bushfires, with pledges already coming in from ships and
ports. Union fund raising is now being co-coordinated with the ACTU and
the Transport Union Federation (TWU and RTBU).

The death toll last night reached 181, but police fear as many as 300
bodies will be recovered from the ashes.

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