FLAGS OF CONVENIENCE
SLEEPING ON BOARD THE
UNISON JASPER Newcastle volunteer inspector for the International Transport Workers’ Federation bunks up with the Burmese crew forced to work Australia’s coastal alumina trade on slave wages
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teve Murray, volunteer for the International Transport Workers’ Federation in Newcastle got a call that a Burmese crew in port, feared for their lives. He drove straight over. It was after nightfall when he climbed the gangway of Hong Kong flagged bulk carrier Unison Jasper at the Kooragang Island wharf that winter evening, Sunday, 29 July. On deck he was stopped by one of the ship’s Chinese officers. “Why won’t you let me on the ship,” Steve asked, pulling out his phone to record the conversation. “You’re not paying the workers correctly. I want to talk to them. I’ll wait here all night. I’ll sleep on the deck.” The crew were standing behind trying to reach out to Steve, but the officer was blocking them. “So, they stormed past and came out onto the deck,” said Steve. “I had all the crew with me. They were crouching down. They told me they’d been bullied and forced to sign their contract extensions. All had spent just under 14 months on board.”
Steve asked to talk to the captain. The ship’s crew circled him in solidarity and once again pushed past the officer. In the rec room they got the ITF Burmese interpreter in London on the line to get to the bottom of what was happening. The captain came down with the first officer and told Steve to get off the ship or he would call the police. Steve refused to budge: “I’m not leaving my comrades on board this ship because they fear for their lives,” he retorted. Hours went by. One of the Burmese seafarers pulled his mattress out of his
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