Press Release
Dated: 6 July
Press Release
Dated: 6 July
Santa Cruz Tenerife. June 26th - 28th
In an amazing show of unity and solidarity Dock Delegates from over 85 ports worldwide agreed to formally and legally constitute the International Dockworkers Council (IDC).
The 3 day conference was organised and hosted by the Spanish Dockworkers Union Coordinadora Estatal De Estibadores Portuarios. Representatives from 13 countries with a total membership of more than 30,000 dockworkers agreed to adopt article 87 of the ILO Convention concerning the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise as a framework for the new international movement of dockworkers, organised by dockworkers, for the benefit of dockworkers.
The 60 assembled delegates also agreed that for a 12 month period Coordinadora Estatal De Estibadores Portuarios will hold the positions of GENERAL CO-ORDINATOR, TREASURER – under the guidance of France (CGT) and Greece (Union of Dockworkers Port of Piraeus) and the HEADQUATERS. Address: Calle del Mar number 97, Barcelona. Tel/Fax: 00 34 965 13 09 23. E-mail: internacional@coordinadora.org
The position of INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT will be held by the sacked Liverpool Dockworkers through their working company the Initiative Factory: 29 Hope Street Liverpool L1 9BQ. Tel: 00 44 151 207 2148 Fax: 00 44 151 207 5596. E-mail: dockers@gn.apc.org
The following ZONAL CO-ORDINATORS were also agreed:
1) North America and the East Coast of America: ILA Local 273. 20 Church Avenue, Saint John, New Brunswick, E2M 4P4 Canada. Tel: 001 506 635 8610. Fax: 001 506 635 6993.
2) West Coast of America and the Pacific Rim: I. L. W. U. 1188 Franklin St. San Francisco, CA 94109, USA. Tel: 001 415 775 0533 Fax: 001 415 775 1302. The ILWU delegates will be nominated by the Coast Committee.
3) Central and South America: The Trade Union Federation of North Chilean Dockworkers Iquique, Chile.
4) Europe: Swedish Dockworkers Union Hamnarbetarförbundet: Sodra Hamnvagen 42, 11541 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel: 00 46 8 667 8347 Fax: 00 46 8 667 8447. E-mail sthlm.hamnarbetare@telia.com
The position of Trustees will be shared jointly by: Union of Dockworkers Port of Piraeus, Thermopilon 22 185 45 Piraeus, Greece. Tel: 00 301 46 14 825. Fax: 00 301 46 11 273. E-mail: dockers@otenet.gr and the Syndicat General des Ouvriers du Port, Foyer du Docker, Rue Marceau Prolongée, Pont IV, 76600 Le Havre, France. Tel: 00 33 235 24 64 44 Fax: 00 33 235 24 64 40.
Conference paid a special tribute to that great internationalist Francisco Ramos Vargos, (“Paco”) who was tragically killed whilst working in the Port of Tenerife last year. Delegates attended a special ceremony of family, friends and fellow dockworkers at the port.
When Paco attended a meeting in Liverpool 1996 during the Liverpool Dockworkers lockout he spoke these words: “ The unity of all dockworkers in the labour and trade union movement is one of my main aspirations. I wish that one day that old aspiration will become a reality. ”
Following the events that have now been concluded in Tenerife, that aspiration is becoming a reality.
For further information contact the Initiative Factory Tel: ++ 44 151 709 2148. Fax: ++44 151 709 5596. E-mail: dockers@gn.apc.org
ENDS
