Vinnie Molina, the President of the Communist Party of Australia sent a letter of solidarity to the Maritime Union of Australia, whose members are struggling against the proposed automation and AI driven operations at Australian terminals.
Communist Party of Australia supports maritime workers
Warren Smith
Deputy national secretary
Maritime Union of Australia, MUA
Dear comrade,
The Communist Party of Australia stands in solidarity with the Maritime Union of Australia and its members in their crucial struggle to oppose the proposed automation and AI driven operations at DP World’s four Australian terminals (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Fremantle).
We condemn DP World’s war on workers that aims to replace skilled workers with less efficient automation to destroy jobs and its unionised workforce.
Automation is a class issue. Technology is in the wrong hands at the moment and it is being used for union busting with the ultimate aim of greater profit margins at workers’ expense. There is no evidence the over $600 million investment will deliver any gains in efficiency or productivity. This attack is squarely aimed at reducing wages and working conditions won through the struggle of the union. Further evidence to support this is that at no time during bargaining were these plans discussed effectively denying workers access to legal industrial action.
In my 28 years as a union official in the construction industry l have witnessed how profit motive comes first ahead of workers’ safety on the job and wages and conditions or even temporarily against their own profits to get the job of destroying unions done. The CPA stands with workers in all industries that are under capitalist threat to get rid of jobs through the misuse of technology.
Technology in the hands of the capitalist threatens employment, delivers higher working intensity to the remaining workers and attacks secure, well-paid jobs with good conditions. Technology must be used to protect health and safety and to improve working conditions.
The CPA commits to raising awareness through our Party publications and to stand alongside maritime workers in their campaign against automation at DP World facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle.
Maritime workers and their union the MUA can be assured that CPA activists will stand shoulder to shoulder in their struggle against capitalist automation driven by the tax-evading multinational DP World.
Our resources will be made available to the struggle of MUA members until DP World is defeated by the MUA organised workforce and its allies to protect their future.
Long live the MUA!
Down with DP World!
Vinnie Molina
President
Communist Party of Australia