Dear Colleagues,
Over the past weekend, sacked Liverpool dockworkers were able to stage two important events, as their long-running fight for reinstatement approaches the eighteen month mark.
On Saturday, 22nd March, a Mass Demonstration took place through the streets of Liverpool, in which speakers both Nationally and Internationally, were able to pass on continued pledges of support to the Liverpool dockworkers and their families.
On Sunday, 23rd March, the International Steering Committee that was set up in February 1996 to protect dockworkers the world over, met to discuss future strategy in support of the Liverpool fight and also draw up an Agenda for the next full International Dockworkers’ Conference, which is to be held in Montreal during the week 25th to 30th May 1997.
During the meeting, a lengthy debate took place over the proposals for the sacked Liverpool dockworkers to set up their own labour supply company. The International colleagues in attendance raised their concern over the agency labour that currently uses the Port of Liverpool. They made the point that unless all strike-breaking labour contractors, including Drake Port Services, are removed from the Port and an exclusive contract being achieved to work the Container Terminal, the labour supply initiative would end in disaster.
This is also the view of the Merseyside Port Shop Stewards and the Liverpool dockworkers. Unfortunately, our own Union leadership and the employers still believe it possible for our labour supply company to co-exist in the Port, alongside all the non-Union, strike-breaking agencies and without a contract to work at the most important area of the Port - the Container Terminal. We know that that solution would only be short term and totally unacceptable to ourselves and all those supporters who have invested so much to our cause.
At the end of the debate, it was agreed that a resolution be sent to all International dockworkers’ Unions supporting the Liverpool dockworkers’ proposals for supplying labour to the whole of the Port of Liverpool. It was also agreed that for a labour supply company to succeed, there would be a need to step up International pressure on all those shipping companies that still use the Port of Liverpool, (A.C.L, CAST, CANMAR, ZIM LINES, ELLERMANS, GRACECHURCH and BALTIC SHIPPING COMPANIES), so that they fully understand the seriousness of our intentions to return to the Port of Liverpool as a permanently well organised workforce, with full Trade Union rights and conditions and that they have the opportunity to make a choice between peace and prosperity within the Port or face the prospect of continual International actions being taken against their companies.
The invitations and details of the full Conference will be sent out shortly be the Conference Hosts: THE SYNDICAT DES DEBARDEURS, S.C.F.P. SECTION LOCALE 375, 7020 NOTRE-DAME EST, MONTREAL, QUEBEC, H1N 3L6. Could we ask that resolutions to the above Conference be forwarded to the above address at the earliest possible time, with copies being sent to the Liverpool Office.
Many thanks for your continuing support.
Hope to see you in Montreal.
Yours fraternally,
J. NOLAN
