Sacked Liverpool dock workers, their families and supporters will peacefully lobby members of the union’s General Executive Council on Monday morning (1st December) from 7:00 a.m. onwards with a view to indicating that the union’s policy of seeking a negotiated settlement with Mersey Docks has, after two years and three months of struggle by the dockers and their supporters, failed.

A new strategy has to be implemented by the G.E.C. that recognises that Mersey Docks will only negotiate under pressure from the whole of the labour movement.

We ask all our supporters and T&G branches to bring their banners in exercising their democratic rights to influence our union’s primary decision making forum.

To: All Support Groups and members of the T&GWU

10 November 1997

Dear Colleagues,

In the first week of December our General Executive Council will meet. We consider that judging by events over the last few weeks, this GEC may be asked to impose specific decisions upon the future of the Liverpool Docks Dispute.

It is therefore vital that as many T&G Branches as possible send resolutions direct to the GEC (under Rule 10(e)) calling upon the union to recognise the 70% ballot rejection of Mersey Docks severance package.

We hope that you will be able to campaign for resolutions to reach the GEC, prior to December 1st 1997, taking up the following points:

1. BDC policy calls for direct government intervention in the docks dispute

2. The union to instruct the International Transportworkers Federation (ITF) to implement ITF policies on boycotting trade with the port of Liverpool and Medway Ports (owned by Mersey Docks and Harbour Company).

3. To clarify, legally, the status of the Liverpool docks dispute in relation to industrial relations law.

4. To call upon T&GWU members to actively support the Liverpool dockers in their workplaces.

5. That the policy of “seeking a negotiated settlement” has failed as Mersey Docks will only respond to economic and industrial pressure.

6. To campaign with the TUC to organise a boycott of Mersey Docks including Medway Ports.

7. To continue financial support for the Dockers Hardship Fund.

Colleagues, for two years we have argued that the Liverpool docks dispute is not an unofficial strike. It is now time for our union to recognise this fact together with the decisions of two postal ballots.

Yours in Solidarity,

Merseyside Port Shop Stewards

Model Resolutions

That this branch calls upon the GEC to recognise that its policies of seeking a negotiated settlement with Mersey Docks whilst maintaining the fabric of the union have failed.

That this GEC should now use its influence with the ITF, as a major affiliate, to action vigorously the policies of the ITF in relation to the Liverpool docks dispute. The GEC should also use this same influence upon the government to intervene in the Liverpool docks dispute as decided by our union's 1997 Biennial Delegate Conference.

As with all disputes against bad employers the economic base of the company has to be undermined in order to encourage the employer to seek a negotiated settlement.

That this branch calls upon the GEC to review its perspective upon the legal status of the Liverpool docks dispute. This would involve consideration being given towards ILO Conventions relating to freedom of association and the rights of trade union members in dispute situations. Similarly, European laws in respect of social policy affecting the working conditions within member states should also be examined. UK labour law as it applies to the Liverpool docks dispute must also be considered afresh in the reality that the fabric of our union has remained intact for over two years and that Mersey Docks have consistently claimed that no strike exists between the TGWU and the company. It is also important to note that a parliamentary intervention may take place in reference to the financial dealings of Mersey Docks through the Public Accounts Committee.

This branch feels that sufficient opportunity exists for legal clarification in all these areas and for a fresh directive to be initiated.

This branch calls upon the GEC to introduce a strategy of trade union action against Mersey Docks. Such actions would involve members of the TGWU, the TUC, ITF and the Labour government. Pressure has to be increased to bring Mersey Docks to the negotiating table in order to reach a negotiated settlement.