Report by LabourNet
In ports all over the world dockers returning from the historic international conference have called mass meetings to implement the boycott of trade with Liverpool. Donations to the strike fund are pouring in.
Recent arrivals have been from Norway (£1000), Denmark (£3000) Hamburg (£2,780), Greece (£2000), Tenerife (£3,100) Helsinborg (Sweden) (£650), Genoa (£2063 ), American Maritime Officers Union (£5000), Seafarers’ Union of North America (£5000), International Longshoremen's Association (£5000), International Organisation of Masters, Mates and Pilots (Maryland) ($5000). A further £5000 from the Montreal Dockers’ Union is on its way.
Liverpool lads Kevin Robinson and Terry Southers are heading for Lisbon where issues Including the dispute have provoked an overtime ban due to start on 11 March. It is aimed to extend this to other ports such as Leixoes, and to cover conventional cargo such as Portuguese pine. Kevin and Terry will also visit Spain. Since the International conference the 5 port unions in Bilbao have agreed to discuss united action against the "Churruca" (Andrew Weir line) which has a weekly service to Liverpool.
In Belgium, Kevin Bilsborough and "young Jimmy Davies" will address mass meetings at the massive Antwerp container terminal. A message from Danish delegate Ole Moller reports that a delegation is invited to visit Arhus, where a financial appeal is already circulating, and Copenhagen.
In Montreal, Canada, mass meetings have been organised with a view to industrial action and in St. John's the union is debating "pressure tactics".
In Australia and New Zealand ABC ships have been impounded for debt, with the line’s financial crisis partly caused by the frequent hold ups of their Liverpool ships. Terry Ryan reports from New Zealand that the "Cornelius Verolme" was held up for 3 days in Auckland. The pressure will be maintained until Liverpool dockers call it off.
The Australian Labour Party's recent loss in national elections led to an immediate attack on the Maritime Union of Australia and the mineworkers union, but support for Liverpool continues and actions against ABC will not relent.
International Longshoremen's Association (US East Coast) President John Bowers arrives in Liverpool to address a mass meeting of dockers on 13 March. In San Francisco the ILWU (US West Coast) has written to enquire what action would be appropriate regarding OOCL and Hapag Lloyd.
Bjorn Borg in Stockholm (Sweden) reports that following a National Committee discussion, Gothenburg dockers are looking at ACL
Colette Mella and Mary Pendleton (Women of the Waterfront) have flown to Stockholm as guests of the syndicalist union SAC to address meetings of Swedish women and dockers around International Women's Day, with national press coverage.
In Greece, following their 24 hour general strike the Piraeus dockers maintain support for Liverpool, with coverage in their mass circulation union newspaper.
Irish dockers are seeking to organise an all Ireland conference, with Jimmy Nolan invited to chair.
Russian dockers have written to pledge solidarity, asking us for information. They will be Informed of Latvian and Baltic shipping lines.
Finally, from Poland, comes an offer of a free holiday for 100 strikers' kids and their mums from a firm whose plans to move Into Liverpool Freeport were cancelled due to the dispute.
