The T&GWU and Liverpool Dockers

"How can we deliver the knockout blow, when the TGWU throws in the towel every time we get close? We must take the decisions from Montreal forward to the ITF, and if the Labour Government say they 'won't get involved' we'll have to pursue them until they change their minds."

Mike Carden (June 1997)

Speaking to the men

• T&GWU General Secretary Bill Morris
  addresses dockers mass meeting (14 March 1996)

Talking with the company

• T&G in talks (Jan 1996)
• TGWU calls for new talks (1 Aug 1996)
• Talks with MD&HC Adjourned (7 Nov 1996)
• Talks Begin 21 Nov on Mersey Docks Latest Final Offer
  (21 Nov 1996)
• TGWU relaunches "Jobs Rescue Package" (10 Feb 1997)
• Nearing the End Game? (7 Mar 1997)
• KPMG: Impartial Business Advisors?
  (Jim Nolan to Bill Morris 4 Apr 1997)
• T&GWU Executive debate as KPMG report identifies
  30 dockers jobs in Liverpool (5 June 1997)

Ballots

• The First Time (26 Jan 1996)
• The Second Time (20 Oct 1997)

The Local Official

• Strike by Mersey pilots averted; no confidence in docks official (early March 1997)

The Biennial Delegate Conference

• Port Stewards International Update re T&GWU Conference
  (9 July 1997)
• Ford Dagenham support dockers (Sept 1997)
• Government minister denies T&GWU claim over dockers
  (27 Oct 1997)

Democracy at the Top

• Irish TGWU resolution to TGWU Exec (27 Oct 1997)
• Dockers to lobby T&GWU General Executive Council
  (Nov 1997)
• TGWU General Executive Council Chair rules out debate
  on Liverpool motions (5 Dec 1997)

The ITF

• TGWU and ITF hostility (30 Aug 1996)
• Letter to Bill Morris from Jim Nolan (25 Nov 1996)
• ITF circular on Liverpool dock dispute (10 Jan 1997)
• T&GWU opposes Liverpool docker
  addressing ITF dockers' section conference (4 June 1997)
• T&GWU addresses ITF Conference
  (excerpt from Stewards Report June 1997)
• ITF General Secretary avoiding Bill Morris' wrath (excerpt from Canadian Auto Workers conference report Aug 1997)

The TUC

• Jim Nolan and Bill Morris re TUC (18 Aug and early Sept 1997)

What Other Dockers Think

• International dockers letter to Bill Morris (28 Oct 1996)
• Ron Weichels letter re TGWU and ITF (5 June 1997)
• New Zealand Waterfront Workers letter to Bill Morris
  (1 July 1997)
• ILWU Local 19 letter to Bill Morris (1 July 1997)
• ILWU Local 40 letter to Morris (1 July 1997)
• ILWU Local 10 letter to Bill Morris (2 July 1997)
• Irish Port Liaison Group letter to Bill Morris (4 July 1997)
• Danish Dockers (Arhus) letter to Bill Morris (9 July 1997)

Public Debate

• "The dockers must disassociate themselves from those who have become involved in the dispute" (Bill Morris, excerpt from demo report 1 Oct 1996)
• John Pilger (excerpt from Guardian article 23 November 1996)
• Bill Morris replies to critics (TGWU Record Feb-Mar 1997)
• Port Shop Stewards reply to Bill Morris (Feb 1997)
• "No longer an industrial dispute but a political movement"
  (Bill Morris letter to Mick Kilcullen 25 Mar 1997)
• Dockers refute Bill Morris figures (10 Dec 1997)