In a dramatic echo of the international Outspan boycott during the
apartheid years, South African dockers plan to halt fruit exports to the
UK
in solidarity with sacked Liverpool dockers.
Oranges and other South African citrus fruit marketed by Capespan land in
the UK at the Port of Sheerness, which is 100% owned and operated by the
Mersey Docks and Harbour Company through Medway Ports Ltd. A twenty year
contract to handle Capespan imports was recently announced by Mersey Docks.
According to Medway Ports, fresh produce represents over a third of
activity at the Port of Sheerness. Mersey Docks has invested over £9
million to upgrade cold storage facilities at the Sheerness Produce
Terminal and a further £8 million on its new hinterland complex.
Liverpool dockers were sacked by Mersey Docks two years ago for refusing
to
cross a picket line, and have mounted an international campaign to win
reinstatement. US longshoremen shut down all major West Coast ports in
solidarity for 8 - 24 hours in January, with other industrial action
stretching through 27 countries.
The South African Transport and General Workers Union has expressed strong
support for the Liverpool men, recalling the 1988 blockade of South African
and Namibian uranium in the Port of Liverpool before the abolition of the
UK National Dock Labour Scheme.
The TGWU, affiliated to the main South African union federation COSATU,
is
pressing for a Dock Labour Scheme to be created in South Africa.
General Secretary Marvin Mfundisi today stated that his union is "fully
behind" the planned boycott.
Mfundisi can be contacted at the TGWU on 0027 21 461 9410
