The ACTU protested yesterday to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the International Labor Organisation and Australia's consulate in Timor after the unionist, Michael Killick, was removed from a picket line at Dili Airport and jailed on Sunday. He was charged with assaulting an UN policeman.

ACTU president Sharan Burrow said yesterday from an ILO conference in New Zealand: "It's now an international incident. The arrest of Mick Killick is an amazing over-reaction and one that we believe cannot be justified, particularly from an organisation which supports collective bargaining."

According to the International Transport Workers Federation, the dispute flared because Timor Aviation Services, which handles baggage, sacked unionists shortly after being awarded a major contract to manage flights for UN staff. Mr Killick is a Maritime Union official.

Ms Burrow said the UN had no business in local industrial disputes. "What is the UN doing putting an Australian union official in jail?" We have been told it was a peaceful assembly outside the office of Timor Air, which has refused to collectively bargain with its workers in good faith."

She said other unionists at the Dili Airport picket had assured her the protest was peaceful and Mr Killick, the only Australian, had been plucked from the group.

TAS director Tony Penna said from Dili Mr Killick had been arrested after he scuffled with UN police during the picket.

Late last night the UN said Mr Killick had been freed on bail.

Reprinted from Labourstart 8.10.2003