by Bruce Allen
CAW Local 199 Executive member and 1997 CAW Constitutional Convention delegate
The Liverpool dockworkers' two year long fight to win back their full-time, unionized jobs has at long last finally received serious attention from a major Canadian labour organization. The dockworkers' struggle came to the fore again and again at the 1997 Canadian Autoworkers (CAW) Constitutional Convention held in mid-August in Vancouver, British Columbia. At the same time the newly established Liverpool Dockworkers Solidarity Network got off to an impressive start by making its presence felt in a major way at the convention and it is set to step up its activities across Canada.
CAW National President Buzz Hargrove kick-started the 1997 CAW Constitutional Convention's proceedings with his report to the convention's more than 700 delegates. During his report Hargrove noted that the struggle in Liverpool is continuing. He also broke new ground for a major Canadian union by publicly stating that this struggle "deserves the support of our union".
The following day members of the Liverpool Dockers Solidarity Network handed out leaflets to the delegates as they arrived at the convention site. The leaflets reviewed the history of the struggle in Liverpool and appealed for active solidarity with the fired dockworkers. The delegates responded quite favourably to the leaflet and later in the day Hargrove praised the network for its initiative in leafleting the convention.
Canadian Labour Congress President Bob White was also present at the convention and spoke to the delegates. But just before White spoke he was approached about the dockworkers' struggle in Liverpool and told that Canadian Pacific's subsidiary, Canadian Maritime Services Ltd., was still sending CAST-CanMar vessels to the Port of Liverpool. White expressed little interest in what he was being told and suggested that the matter could be discussed with him later. So the following day White was approached again and he was specifically asked to try to take action with regard to Canadian Pacific's critically important role in the Liverpool dispute. White responded by saying he did not know what he could do and when he was questioned further he walked away without saying any more.
International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) General Secretary David Cockcroft spoke to the convention as well. Cockcroft made a passing reference to "the situation in Liverpool" during his speech. Afterwards Cockcroft was asked why he did not deal with the struggle in Liverpool in more detail. Cockcroft indicated that he could not do that without inciting the wrath of Britain's Transport and General Workers leader Bill Morris who is on the ITF Executive. Cockcroft also stated that many ITF affiliates were supporting the fired Liverpool dockworkers. At the conclusion of the discussion, which went on for some time, Cockcroft was given a copy of the leaflet that had been passed out to the delegates by members of the Liverpool Dockworkers Solidarity Network.
Much more positive developments followed on the final day of the 1997 CAW Constitutional Convention. News arrived via e-mail that retired Ford worker Mansfield Mathias had succeeded in getting the retirees chapter of CAW Local 200 in Windsor, Ontario to donate 100 pounds to the fired Liverpool dockworkers. Hargrove told the convention delegates about this and praised Brother Mathias' efforts. Hargrove also warmly praised the action just declared by South African dockworkers in solidarity with their brothers in Liverpool. Hargrove had received word of this by e-mail from Brother Mathias as well. Finally Hargrove indicated to the delegates that more support for the fired Liverpool dockworkers from the CAW was forthcoming.
In the wake of these generally positive developments the Liverpool Dockworkers Solidarity Network is planning a number of further activities. Network supporter Mansfield Mathias is going to seek further support among retired CAW members at a conference they are having at the CAW's Family Education Centre in Port Elgin, Ontario. The network is also planning to target Canadian Pacific to try to "persuade" it to stop Canadian Maritime Services Ltd.'s use of the Port of Liverpool. As part of this effort the CEO of the Canadian Pacific subsidiary Mr. M. Jordan (UK fax no. 01293 786630) can expect to receive numerous faxes in the coming weeks from supporters of the fired Liverpool dockworkers.
A resolution is also being sent the upcoming Ontario Federation of Labour Convention. It calls on the federation's affiliated unions and labour councils to get behind the fired Liverpool dockworkers and demand that Canadian Maritime Services Ltd. stop using the Port of Liverpool. Members of the network have also been busy whenever possible writing articles and speaking at conferences about the importance of the fight in Liverpool. (Texts available on request)
The Liverpool Dockworkers Solidarity Network is also planning a cross-Canada speaking tour by a member of Women of the Waterfront (WoW). The purpose of the (WoW) tour will be to build support for the struggle in Liverpool and to focus attention on Canadian Pacific's role in it.
Persons wishing further information concerning the activities of the Liverpool Dockworkers Solidarity Network can e-mail us at:
tel. (905) 934-6233
