The purpose of this meeting was to update Volkswagen shop stewards and IG Metall officials on the current official dispute between the TGWU car transporter drivers, based in Sheerness, and their employer Axial over redundancies arising from a transfer of contract to ECM following a decision by Volkswagen (UK) Ltd. Sheerness is the main port of entry for Volkswagen cars produced at the VAG plant in Emden, Germany to the UK.
The reponse from the VAG representatives of the largest German union, IG Metall, was very good according to TGWU Sheerness shop steward, Gary Smee, who stated that "IG Metall leaders would raise their concerns directly with both Volkswagen and other union representatives employed by the German car manufacturer".
It is expected that the link forged between the TGWU car transporter section and IG Metall will continue with further meetings arranged.
A TGWU Executive member and sacked Liverpool dockers accompanied the delegation to Germany and impressed upon both Axial and VAG that the Port of Sheerness was owned by Mersey Docks - the company at the centre of the 18 month Liverpool docks dispute.
If a settlement to the problems of the car transporters in Sheerness was not concluded satisfactorily, and if the official strike was re-activated, then picketing would be actioned by the Liverpool dockers at Sheerness in solidarity with fellow T&GWU members.
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