ITF
INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT WORKERS’ FEDERATION
49-60 BOROUGH RD,LONDON, SE1 1DS
TEL 0171 403 2733 : FAX 0171 357 7871
EMAIL : MAIL@ITF.ORG.UK
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PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,SATURDAY 11 APRIL 1988
The unprecedented legal attack in the English Courts on the right of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to carry out its central function of co-ordinating international solidarity is likely to intensify support by ITF affiliated seafarer and docker unions around the world for the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) in its fight to reinstate the 2000 dockers sacked by Australian port company Patricks. .. That was the reaction of ITF General Secretary David Cockroft to the news that Patrick Stevedores, with the obvious connivance of the Australian government had secured a temporary seven day injunction in the English High Court designed to stop the London based ITF Secretariat from taking any action against Patricks’ economic interests.
“In view of the threatening statements made by Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith earlier in the week, this action comes as no surprise” said Cockroft. “We are certain that this injunction, granted to cover the period of the Easter holidays will not be sustained once we have had the opportunity to present our case to the Court. Unlike lawbreaker Patricks, which has openly flouted an Australian court injunction obtained by the Maritime Union of Australia, the ITF Secretariat in London (all of whom are on holiday at present) will observe the terms of the court order, he said, pointing out, however, that it would have little practical effect since ships identified by the ITF as having been handled by non-union labour in Patrick terminals were physically incapable of reaching foreign ports within the terms of the present injunction.
Cockroft also warned Patricks, the shipping community and the Australian government against assumng that legal pressure would weaken the resolve of ITF unions to support the MUA, pointing out that it was likely to provoke even stronger action around the world. “The decision to campaign, against non-union ports was taken by all ITF affiliated docker and seafarer unions each of which is fully autonomous, and they alone are responsible for whether and how that decision is implemented in practice.” he added.
