A delegation of Mersey dockers met with a good response from dockers in Italy when they visited them as part of their fight against the Mersey Docks & Harbour Company. They participated in a conference against privatisation in the port of Genoa. Dockers there then put them in contact with dockers in Salerno.
About 10% of foodstuffs arriving at Liverpool port come via Salerno using Zimline and Gracechurch shipping lines, so the port is an important piece in the jigsaw of international support the dockers have been putting together. The dockers received tremendous hospitality from all concerned at the United Portworkers’ Co-op; the Co-op management (who are elected every three years), shop stewards (delegati) and the dockworkers themselves.
During their time in Salerno the delegation was involved in a number of long but fruitful discussions with the Co-op management and shop stewards committee. The Italians proved very knowledgeable on the British political situation. The highlight of the trip was a visit to a banana boat in the port where the delegates engaged in discussions with gangs unloading the boat. The delegation felt they were at home.
The following day they were given an opportunity to address a mass meeting of the dockworkers before they started work. The history of the dispute was outlined and the case for solidarity was made. After a number of questions from the floor, the meeting agreed to an overtime ban on ships to and from Liverpool and coupled it with monthly collections of 10,000 lira per man.
During the visit to Salerno the Liverpool dockers accepted an invitation to attend a national conference of Portworkers that was to be held in Rome the following week.
Both Genoa and Salerno dockers agreed to send delegates to the Liverpool dockers international conference 17-23 February.
