Mike Williams is the Wellington Branch Secretary of the Seafarers Union in New Zealand. After addressing the Liverpool rally on 27 September, Mike spoke to LabourNet.
"I am impressed with the support the Liverpool dockers have given to others nationally and internationally, particularly over the last 2 years which is too long for any one group of workers to be fighting. There are other players here, including the Labour Party and the TGWU, who could do something to resolve the dispute.
"Privatisation and casualisation are world-wide issues. In Wellington when we were picketting a ship, 27 of our members were arrested and strip searched. The employers put a casual labour force on board after our picket was broken. So it's a global problem, and workers internationally must join forces to fight our common enemies.
"I am delighted that the Australian Congress of Trade Unions (ACTU) has made a strong committment to stand up to the Government and shipping industry over their threats to the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA). This is in stark contrast with the position of the TUC in Britain.
"Regarding the International Transportworkers Federation (ITF), I feel that since it has already supported Liverpool through the actions of affiliates, the ITF can't simply turn off that support after it has started. When the Seamen's Union decided to support Liverpool, our president went to London to press the ITF for its support for the issue. The ITF are currently supporting the MUA and the dockers in Colombo (Sri Lanka) over the same issues facing dockers here. So I condemn their current failure to come out in support of Liverpool. The ITF must return to its committment. Walking away weakens the position, and they just can't do that. In fact, the ITF would strengthen its own position by taking action over Liverpool."
