No Deal in Sight

"Free and unfettered negotiations" between the TGWU and Mersey Docks in the presence of the port shop stewards committee and ACAS (Advisory and Conciliation Service) began on 7 November and were adjourned for a week after 6 hours argument.

As stewards informed a packed mass meeting of sacked dockers, the company was unable to offer a single dockwork job, declined to put any figures on potential vacancies in ancillary areas, and refused to consider dismissing the scabs currently employed by Drake International or other contractors.

MDHC opened by explaining they were now landlords, whose direct employment of dock labour was limited to the Grain terminal and Seaforth Container Terminal. All other jobs are outsourced to contractors. There would be no vacancies unless they arose through individual turnover of MDHC employees.

The TGWU told ACAS the talks were a waste of time. But after speaking privately with the company, ACAS declared the union had misunderstood. The TGWU demanded ACAS observe the discussion in person.

Bernard Cliff now alluded to possible vacancies for lockgatemen, gigboatmen, engineers... None of the sacked dockers are trained engineers, and the other positions are paid well below dockwork. Cliff refused to specify how many such ancillary jobs were on offer.

After telling dockers their stance lacked "imagination", Cliff threw his pen on the table at the suggestion that scabs currently employed on dockwork by Drake International could be given severance. Apparently, MDHC can't sack the Drakes men because they don't employ them, they merely pay Drake International to do so.

In the absence of any concrete offer, the union asked for an adjournment until 13 November.

At the mass meeting, a few expressed the view that reinstatement was now unattainable and talks should focus on increasing the severance payout beyond the œ25,000 offered in June (which was subsequently withdrawn when ACL left the port). But the strong majority remain committed to fight on despite the personal hardship, and know that the company will treat beggars without mercy. Ancillary jobs are decidedly unpopular. Men rose to point out that MDHC had no legal obligation to pay any severance to Drakes; they can simply terminate the contract. Speaker after speaker demanded that the campaign be stepped up until MDHC understand what they're up against.

As their letter to international colleagues makes clear, the stewards refute rumours that they have refused to negotiate. The "free and unfettered" talks, a concept ratified at the weekly mass meeting on 1 Nov, were advocated by the union's General Executive Council in September and welcomed immediately by the stewards. This followed an earlier call for "unconditional" talks, unilaterally issued by TGWU General Secretary Bill Morris immediately following the return to Liverpool by Atlantic Container Line in late July after their 5 week sojourn in Thamesport.

For the dockers the aim of talks is to secure reinstatement for all those dismissed in September 1995 who wish to return to the industry, while those wishing to leave would retire with dignity. The union leadership has been told again and again that any offer limited to the 329 men directly employed by MDHC before they were sacked for refusing to cross the Torside picket line, will fail to resolve the dispute.

Whatever poses are struck by the company, their share price is static at 365p (486p before the dispute began, and 410p in late August) and bankers will not advise confidence in MDHC this side of a settlement.