International Co-ordinators:

Quebec and Canada: Michel Murray 001 514 255 8868 tel 001 514 255 8211 fax

South Africa: Marvin Mfundisi 0027 21 461 9410 tel 0027 21 462 1299 fax

USA: Norman Parks 001 503 224 9310 tel 001 503 224 9311 fax

Europe: Julian Garcia Gonzalez 0034 77 226 815 tel 0034 77 216 944 fax

Oceania: Terry Ryan 0064 9 303 4652 tel 0064 9 309 6851 fax

Liverpool: Terry Teague 0044 151 207 3388 tel 0044 151 207 0696 fax

Press Release: 21 August 1997

Dockers To Act World-Wide for Liverpool

It has now been over 23 months since five hundred (500) Liverpool dockers/ longshoremen were fired from their jobs without any grounds or reasons.

For now more than 23 months, five hundred (500) families are in the street, without any alternative source of income, due to an excessive and anti-social interpretation of British legislature.

For now more than 23 months, strike-breakers, or ‘scabs’, have been working regardless of the conditions in the Liverpool Port.

For now more than 23 months, maritime companies have been docking their ships, loading and unloading merchandises, in the Liverpool Port, without a second thought for the shameful fate reserved to the professional dockers/ longshoremen banned from the docks.

In more than 23 months, no national or international actions have succeeded in getting through to Liverpool's port management; even political changes (the election of Tony Blair's Labour Party) that came about within that time period did nothing to improve the status of the unjustly fired dockers/ longshoremen.

At the 2nd International Dockworker's Conference, which was held in Montreal from May 25th to May 30th of 1997 and brought together the dockworkers' union representatives from seventeen (17) countries spread out on the five (5) continents representing more than one hundred thousand (100 000) workers, a plan of action distinct from the financial solidarity was unanimously adopted.

The time has come for the efficient implementation of this plan of action. A tidal wave unlike anything ever seen before will strike and continue to strike unscrupulous maritime companies for as long as the problem faced by these five hundred (500) Liverpool dockworkers and their families remains unresolved.

As early as September of 1997, at a date kept secret in order to maximize the impact on maritime companies, actions of all sorts will be taken against these same maritime companies in all ports represented in Montreal as well as in a large number of other ports sensitized to the situation since the Liverpool scandal.

There must never be a second Liverpool: this is a time for unity and solidarity. Only restrictive actions are likely to push forward this case that many would rather keep quiet. The ethic, dignity and survival of a profession which is constantly under attack throughout the world depends on it.

Press release issued by the Coordination Committee of the 2nd International Dockworkers' Conference, held in Montreal, which brings together the workers operating in the main ports throughout the world, representing about hundred thousand (100 000) dockworkers.

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