4 June 1997
Dear Colleagues,
RE: MONTREAL CONFERENCE
At the very successful second International Dockworkers' Conference, which was held in Montreal between the 25th and 30th May, 1997, a resolution that was adopted unanimously, called for myself as Chairman of the Merseyside Port Shop Stewards to be given permission to address the I.T.F. delegates attending the forthcoming Dockers' Section Conference, which is to be held in Miami on 9th and 10th June, 1997.
For this to be successful, we will need the help and support of all those I.T.F. delegates who attended the Montreal Conference in calling on David Cockroft to agree to this request.
At present, our request for me to speak has been refused (Fax enclosed). Even so, we are determined that Terry Teague and myself will attend Miami, along with a small Committee from the Montreal Conference. We urge all affiliate Unions to the I.T.F. Dockers' Section to call on David Cockroft to re-consider his decision not to allow me to address Conference on such a prominent and important issue such as the Liverpool struggle.
Yours fraternally,
JIMMY NOLAN
Secretary Merseyside Port Stewards Committee
Mr. Jim Nolan
Merseyside Port Shop Stewards
Transport House
Islington
LIVERPOOL
L3 8EQ
Via Fax No: 0151 207 0696
DC/jh
30 May 1997
Dear Jim
Thank you for your letter of 20 May concerning the ITF Dockers' Section Conference in Miaimi next month.
After consulting with the Transport and General Workers' Union about this, I have to inform you that they take the view that the position of the Liverpool dockers can adequately be represented by the union's delegates at the Miami meeting, and that we are therefore not in a position to extend an invitation to you to attend.
I enclose for your information a copy of a letter I have received from Bill Morris on this subject.
Yours fraternally
David Cockroft
General Secretary
BM/PM
29 May 1997
Mr D Cockcroft
General Secretary
ITF
49-60 Borough Road
London SE1 1DS
Dear David,
DOCKERS' SECTION CONFERENCE - MIAMI
I acknowledge, with thanks, receipt of your letter dated the 22nd May, in connection with the above.
The T&G will be represented at this conference by the National Secretary, Graham Stevenson, and a member of our Executive Council from the Docks and Waterways Trade Group. We therefore feel that the issue of the Liverpool Docks will be adequately communicated to those attending Conference.
Any deviation from the elected delegations attending conference would indicate an acceptance by the ITF of unofficial groups to constitutional conferences. If this were the case needless to say, the T&G would object to ITF business being conducted in this way.
Yours sincerely,
BILL MORRIS
General Secretary
