Swedish Dockworkers Union
Bjorn Borg
9 Sept. 1997
to: Merseyside Port Shop Stewards
Last week we informed you about the actions that the Swedish Dockworkers Union, representing 1600 dockers in 20 different ports, had decided to go through with on the Day of Action 8 September 1997: All ships and goods to and from the ports of Liverpool and Sheerness were not to be handled as well as a blockade of all ships and containers owned by ACL and CAST companies.
Summing up the reports being given from different ports we find that the blockade was being carried through with success. In the ports of Stockholm, Malmo and Helsingborg where ACL containers normally are being handled daily the blockade was being effective to 100%. In the most important Swedish port - Gothenburgh - the action meant that: the ACL vessel scheduled to visit Gothenburgh on Monday the 8 September was being diverted and will not call the port until later this week.
On three feederships with containers (Rhine Merchant, Svealand +?) the handling was being delayed or only partly being carried through since they were carrying ACL-containers.
A ro/ro vessel from Finncarriers being chartered by Bore Lines was brought into the port but put aside since there were a lot of ACL goods on board.
I am still waiting for reports from other ports. Most of them are not handling containers, but occasionally forestry products for the port of Sheerness. As soon as I have those reports I will fax you a summary, but most likely nothing happened at all, meaning that the blockade was effective.
Yours in solidarity,
SWEDISH DOCKWORKERS UNION
Bjorn A. Borg
