Liverpool boatmen have voted to strike from next week after rejecting a new pay deal. The TGWU announced the boatmen voted 98pc in favour of action. The MDHC [Mersey Docks & Harbour Company] has offered a 10pc pay rise, revised working hours and conditions and the loss of 6 jobs.
Drake Port Services who were used to break the 95 dispute has already warned its workforce (scabs) they will be trained to tie up ships. It was reported in the local press that one worker said it's a powder keg situation. If the Drakes lads are retrained to do this work they will have to cross the lines and we have seen just what trouble that can cause.
Do I have any sympathy for the boatmen? NO. These are the same men who crossed our picket-line from day one in 95 and left two colleagues sacked alongside us. As they came out after their meeting last night they happened to cross paths with the Women of the Waterfront who told them exactly what they thought of them.
In fact it will be very interesting to see if they put up a picket line after crossing ours for 24 months. And if they do picket, who will be shouting scab at who? Perhaps now they are in this situation they will realise they and the rest of the port should have been solid with us. We would still have been there to support them.
If this does get printed I would like to thank everyone who helped us during our dispute.
