from a Sydney reader
On June 9th more than 22,000 Australian dockers went on strike at six ports to protest against the Menzies Governnent decision to send troops to South Vietnam, In Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and other ports the strikers protested in particular against Judge Gallagher's stotesent that dockers who stopped work on such issues as Vietnam were “unfit to work and were liable to prosecution for conspiracy." At a meeting in Syiney, the dockers heard a message from their counterparts in Saigon saying that they were "very happy to learn that you went on strike on April 21 to protest against your Government's policy on Vietnam," It is estimated that more than 135 ships were affected by the strike.
The following day, June 10th, the Australian Stevedoring Industry Authority fined the dockers more than £7 for taking part in the strike, The authority claimed that the strike was authorised and hadZdne through the correct channels. The general secretary of the Waterside Workers! Federation, said that all members who took part in the strike had been fined. The fine takes the form of withholding attendance money, The dockers, however, are determined to make their views known and the fines have had the effect of increasing militancy rather than intimidating anyone. It would be very good indeed if there were more examples like this (and the refusal of Japanese seamen and dockers to handle Vietnam-bound U.S. ships) in the struggle against U.S. aggression.