People you meet along the way - EP21 - Prime TV evicted

A protest meeting highlights union actions against media crews accused of using non-union labor during a statewide strike. Tensions rise as a media crew faces an attack, leading to their removal and police involvement for medical assistance. The news director vows not to be intimidated, while legal actions unfold with the TV crew filing assault charges and the union responding with trespass charges.

Transcript

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Some of the people you meet along the way, simply don't want to know you as, uh, my cameraman, John Hasp and me found out in Wollongong in 1991, The stop work meeting was called to protest. V HP's proposed use of contract labor. It turned into a full scale attack. Unions on the south coast had black band prime TV crews claiming they had used union labor during last week's statewide strike. Come On, you scared. Get here. Steel workers stopped at nothing to ensure that ban stayed in place. Get outta Here. A camera tripod was taken. When the cameraman tried to retrieve it. He was set upon. Go Reporter Terry Galloway made another attempt. The crew were tossed from the ground Here. Police were called their advice urgent. Gotta Leave otherwise there'll be a Right. Two of the crew needed medical attention. Primes news director claimed his team will not be intimidated. The unions insist the black band will stay in place. We've always tried to be cooperative with the media, but Prime unfortunately, has taken on the trade union level. The TV crew intends to file assault charges. The union says in that case it will press for charges of trespass. Mark Ferguson for seven nightly news.