Japanese Dockers Face Deregulation Drive

The 40,000 strong National Council of Dockworkers Unions (Zenkoku Kowan) held workplace rallies cutting into working hours by 30 minutes in 50 ports on 20 January 1997 under the slogan "Stand Against Deregulation, Strengthen International Solidarity". Shipping lines such as OOCL, Evergreen, NYK, and P&O were affected. A dockers rally was held in Tokyo Bay and the Japanese union wrote to Mersey Docks & Harbour Company threatening further action including strikes in February.

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