Australia: In Sydney, Australian National Line vessels have been hit with go-slows and actions. ZIM Australia was held up for 24hrs and further action is planned against ZIM Line ships. ZIM Line links Liverpool with the Mediterranean. Bernard Cliff, Chairman of MDHC, has recently been in Israel where ZIM is based, possibly dicussing the situation with them.
Denmark: Dockers in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Horsens and Odense held stoppages lasting from 3 to 24 hours.
Canada: Montreal rail workers have operated a 4 day work-to-rule on the freightliner system disrupting 80% of all container traffic passing through the port. Montreal dockworkers union delegates have met the President of the Canadian Labor Congress, and the CLC is to circulate all affiliates with a letter of support. CAST and CanMar, owned by Canadian Pacific, ship through Liverpool.
France: Le Havre dockers held up an OOCL vessel for 16 hours. OOCL has a slot-sharing scheme with CAST and CanMar to ship containers through Liverpool.
Germany: The OTV Congress agreed on 1 October to monthly financial donations, publicity, and industrial pressure in German ports on Mersey Docks and shipping companies trading with Liverpool.
Spain: A special delegates meeting representing all Spanish ports agreed on 3 October that all ports represented by the Coordinadora, UGT, and CCOO will take 1 hour solidarity strike action on 28 October.
Sweden: In the ports of Gothenburg, Helsinborg, and Stockholm a 24 hour blockade was successfully imposed on all ACL containers transported by road, rail or sea.
Jim Nolan concludes, "the actions are having a big effect on the financial base of the Mersey Docks & Harbour Company as the share value continues to fall to an all time low. On behalf of the Liverpool dock workers and their families, may we once again thank you all."
Finally, late news from Cyprus: a Liverpool delegation has been invited to Nicosia by the Pancyprian Transport, Port, Seamen and General Workers Trade Union.
LabourNet Report
