16th July 2001
Letters to the Editor,
Daily Post,
PO Box 48,
Old Hall Street,
Liverpool L69 3EB
Dear Editor,
On behalf of the sacked Liverpool Dockworkers Co-operative ‘The Initiative Factory ‘ I would like to respond to Barry Turnbull’s article ‘Union take dock dispute men’ (Daily Post Friday 13th July 2001).
Whilst accepting that it is nearly 6 years since the Liverpool Dock Dispute started, the actions of the strike-breakers should never be forgotten or forgiven, for the way they helped undermine a just and courageous campaign for workers’ rights.
The article, which mentioned that the bad working practices within the port are going to be fully exposed because the strike-breakers now belong to the TGWU, only further justifies the grounds that lay behind the 28 month Liverpool Dockworkers’ Dispute.
The excellent standard of pay & conditions that were quite rightly associated with the Liverpool Dockers throughout the 70s, 80s and early 90s was something that was never given or achieved by Employers or Union Officials, but by the unity and solidarity of workers fighting for what they believed in. The better terms and conditions that the strike-breakers now want to share in, are the conditions fought for and won by the sacked Liverpool Dockworkers, their Fathers and their Grandfathers.
The fair-minded men and women of Merseyside know that the actions of the strike-breakers were every bit as bad as those taken by the MDHC when it decided to sack an entire workforce.
No amount of ‘crocodile tears’ coming from these individuals now should ever disguise the fact that for 2½ years they crossed a picket line to reach their place of work. During that period they fully supported every action taken by the Employers, the Police and the Government to make sure the sacked Dockworkers would never return to the industry, in which they had given the best years of their working lives.
From what I hear and read about the dreadful state of Employer/Employee relations within the Port, it seems that both parties now have the partners they deserve and long may it last!!!
Yours Sincerely,
Terry Teague (Secretary)
