Doreen McNally, chair of Women of the Waterfront told the International Conference about the dock company's aim 'to return to the cheap labour of Victorian times'.
'The men were constantly threatened with dismissal if they didn't agree to sign various contracts, accepting disgraceful working conditions,'she said. The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company 'intruded in our family lives ... the men were quizzed about their whereabouts, as if they were accountable 24 hours a day.'
Doreen explained that this unprecedented intrusion was a major strategic error because it brought out the women's instinct to fight to protect their family. When the men refused to cross the picket line, 'their partners were right there with them ecstatic that finally, after six years of being held to ransom, they were making a stand for justice,' she said.
The MDHC offered £20,000 to get rid of the dockers, but 'What these men have - principles, integrity, honour cannot be bought ... This fight is not about money - it never has been - it is about jobs.
'We applaud our men for making this stand. We applaud them for acknowledging the role we have played in making their fight against the Dock Board tyranny easier because of our total support.
'We applaud them for their persistence and dogged determination in presenting our case around the world, resulting in this wonderful, historic conference.'
Back to Dockers Charter Conference Reports
WOW
