European dockers strike report

Canadian dock strike in solidarity with Europe
European dockers will strike against EU Directive approval

Solidarity message from ILWU Local 10

EU Directive: Belgian Dockers Petition

European strike: Lloyd’s List off the mark
European Directive on Port Services

European dockers will strike 17 November against EU plans
Why dockers worldwide should respond to European strike

• Europe and West Coast: Employers Synchronize Moves (Peter Shaw 17 June 2002)

ETF Strike

• Belgium strike - Germany to follow (ETF 7 June 2002)
• Directive on Market Access to Port Services (ITF 12 June 2002)

Tonnage slashed

• Every union member affected by EU ports package (Ian 15 May 2002)

EU Vote

• European Parliament vote on cargo handling
  (Kees Marges, ITF 14 Nov 2001)

IDC strike 6 Nov.

• European Dockers 24 hour strike (Teresa Alert, IDC 8 Nov 2001)
• Estibadores Europeos: Huelga de 24 Horas
  (Teresa Alert, IDC 8 Nov 2001)
• European Dockers Strike - First Reports
  (Peter Shaw and BBC 7 Nov 2001)
• European dockers strike over EU competition plan
  (Reuters 7 Nov 2001)
• Swedish dockers to call employers bluff 6 Nov.
  (Greg Dropkin 1 Nov 2001)
• Why European dockers will strike 6 Nov.
  (Julián Garcia and Björn Borg, IDC 1 Nov 2001)
• IDC European affiliates to strike 24 hours on 6 Nov.
  (Greg Dropkin 31 Oct. 2001)
• Confusion after European Transport Committee vote
  (Ole, Peter Shaw, Kees Marges 10 - 12 Oct. 2001)
• for background see material below on EU flexibility

ITF European Ports Action Day

• More detail on Port Action (LabourNet 28 Sep 2001)
• Update on ITF/ETF European Ports Action Day (ITF 27 Sep 2001)
• ITF/ETF European Ports Action Day (ITF 25 Sep 2001)
• Work stops in European docks tomorrow (ITF 24 Sep 2001)
• Statement on European Port Action (IDC 23 Sep 2001)
• Update on EU Port Action Day (Kees Marges 21 Sep 2001)
• Comment on European Dockers Discussion (Bjorn A. Borg 21 Sep 2001)
• EU Market Access: Same Old Song (Ole 21 Sep 2001)
• The club of unions taking serious action (Kees Marges, 21 Sep 2001)
• Which Club? (Peter Shaw, 20 Sep 2001)
• Welcome to the Club (Kees Marges, 20 Sep 2001)
• European Dockers to Strike 25 September (Peter Shaw, 20 Sep 2001)
• for background see material below on EU flexibility

EU flexibility

• European Shippers move to lobby Parliament
  (Peter Shaw, 23 Aug 2001)
• EU Ports: Background EU-documents
  (Peter Shaw, 24 Aug 2001)
• EU Ports: IDC may support new tack
  (Peter Shaw, 18 July 2001)
• IDC Barcelona meeting 2-3 Feb
  (Peter Shaw 15 Mar 2001)
• IDC response to draft EU Directive
  (Julián García González, IDC 3 Feb 2001)
• Dockworkers kill part of EU port reform plan
  (Bruce Barnard, JoC 21 Feb 2001)
• EU proposed Directive (European Commission 14 Feb 2001)
• EU poised to unveil port reform plans
  (Bruce Barnard, JoC 4 Jan 2001)
• IDC to respond to EU flexibility plans
  (Terry Teague, IDC Secretary, 25 Oct. 2000)
• IDC European sub-committee Liverpool meeting
  (Terry Teague, IDC Secretary, 27 Oct. 2000)

France

• Marseille and Fos strike
  (Peter Shaw, Newspaper Nick, and Lloyd’s List)

International Dockworkers’ Council

• IDC condemns war on Iraq (IDC, 12 Mar 2003)

• Montreal affiliates to IDC
• IDC 1st General Assembly held in Charleston (IDC 13 Mar 2002)
• IDC: Primera Asamblea General en Charleston (IDC 13 Mar 2002)
• IDC to highlight port privatisation at ETUC Barcelona demo
  (IDC 13 Mar 2002)
• Adhesion del I. D. C. a la manifestacion del 14 de Marzo
  (IDC 13 Mar 2002)
• IDC Resolution on Mumia Abu-Jamal
  (IDC 6 Mar 2002)

• The Charleston Longshore Victory Celebration. . . and Beyond
  (Jack Heyman 26 Mar 2002)
• Northern California Charleston report-back
  (Jack Heyman 30 Mar 2002)

• IDC Barcelona office
  (Julian Garcia, IDC Gen. Coordinator 22 Nov 2000)

Formation of IDC

• New International Dockworkers Union (IDC Press Release 6 July 2000)
• ILWU Forum to Report on IDC Conference
  (Ray Familathe 4 Aug 2000)
• Tenerife IDC meeting: Draft Agenda (Coordinadora, 12 June 2000)
• International Dockers’ Council Meeting
  (Liverpool Dockers, 18 Apr 2000)
• Conference Report (Liverpool Dockers Initiative Factory, Oct 1999)
• International Dockworkers Council forming in Liverpool
  (Greg Dropkin, 8 Oct 1999)
• Gothenburg International Dockworkers’ Conference

Australia

• CSX: without so much as a boo
  (Trish Nacey, 9 Aug 2001)
• Patricks Buys CSX and Dumps Workforce
  (Trish Nacey, 8 Aug 2001)
• Waterfront: the battle that changed Australia
  (Book Review by Bob Carnegie, 8 Jan 2001)

Bangladesh

• Chittagong dockworkers renew protests
  (N. Vasuki Rao, JoC 2 July 2001)
• Bangladeshi Dockers Strike (David Osler, Lloyds List 28 Jun 2001)
• 22 unions to strike Chittagong (N. Vasuki Rao, JoC 25 Jun 2001)

Brazil

Inspectors Strike

• Brazil ports hit by inspectors’ strike (Thierry Ogier, JoC Online 3 July 2002)

Previous Santos strike

• Santos Outcome (translated press coverage 11-18 Apr 2001)

Vanderlei José da Silva
President, Santos Stevedores Union

• Shifting Strategies: Talks to re-open while Military Police return
  (Mauri Alexandrino 9 Apr 2001)
• Employers Quit Talks; National Port Strike Possible
  (Mauri Alexandrino 7 Apr 2001)
• Santos Port Union Update 4-5 April (Mauri Alexandrino 5 Apr 2001)
• Bloody Monday Echoes Dictatorship (Mauri Alexandrino 3 Apr 2001)

Chile

• Valparaíso Portworkers Freed (El Mercurio 21 April 2002)
• Portworkers appeal for imprisoned union leaders
  (Federation of Iquique Portworkers Unions 21 April 2002)
• Solicita solidaridad dirigente preso (FETRAPI - IQUIQUE 21 de abril 2002)
• Port strike ends
  (Christen A. Jamar, Dow Jones Newswires 6 July 2001)
• Port strike spreads (Thierry Ogier, JoC 6 July 2001)

Colombia

• Oil Region Unions and Community Denounce Repression
  (Humanidad Vigente, 25 Aug 2000)
• Agudizacion de las Violaciones de los Derechos Humanos
  (Humanidad Vigente, 25 agosto 2000)

Finland

• Finnish Stevedores Strike (Helsingin Sangomat 22 Jan 2001)

India

• Indian port workers to launch nation-wide strike
  (The Hindu 11 May 2001)
• Unions block P&O Indian port privatization
  (N. Vasuki Rao, JoC 20 Mar 2001)
• Ten year gains for Indian port workers (ITF, 11 Aug 2000)

Indonesia

• Background on Maritime Union of Indonesia
  (Mohamad Irfan, SBMNI Gen. Secretary 25 June 2001)
• Maritime Union of Indonesia (Wim Benda 25 June 2001)

Israel

• Israeli dockers strike (Ha'aretz 10 - 13 Oct 2003)
• IDC: solidarity with Israeli dockers anti-privatisation strike (IDC 13 Oct 2003)

Humber Pilots vs. ABP

• Humber Pilots Dispute Updates (Humber Pilots 6 Feb 2002)

Japan

• The Fight Against Retaliation by Force
  (Akinobu Itoh, Gen. Sec. All Japan Dockworkers’ Union 28 Feb 2002)
• Maritime Workers Joint Struggle Against “Wartime” Legislation
  (www.japan-press.co.jp Feb 2002)

Liverpool

Recruiting the Strike-breakers

• Drakes correction
• Scabs pay claim
• Sacked Dockers Respond as T&GWU Recruit Drakes
  (Terry Teague 16 July 2001)
• Union take dock dispute men (Barry Turnbull, Daily Post 13 July 2001)
• Flashback: T&G let Drakes off hook in 1997
  (Greg Dropkin, LabourNet 10 Feb 1997)
• Drake International in Nurse Recruitment Scandal
  Under Paid and Over Here
  (Victoria MacDonald, Channel 4 News 12 June 2001)
• TGWU recruit Liverpool scabs (Jimmy Nolan, 23 July 99)

• Liverpool Boatmen: Who’s sorry now? (Billy Johnson 7 Apr 2001)
• Liverpool Dockers New Address (Jim Nolan, 13 Mar 2000)
• “Dockers” script
• “Dockers” – film review (John Henry Bohanna, 26 July 99)
• Reply to Jimmy Barnes (Mike Carden, 16 June 99)
• Challenge to global economy on docks
  (David Bacon, Pacifica Radio 31 Dec 98)
• Aftermath of Liverpool, Mike Carden interview
  (David Bacon, 15 Nov 98)
• Reflecting on Liverpool, interviews (Greg Dropkin, July ’98)

MEBA

• Phil Hellesto (Jeff Engels 7 Apr 2002)
• Phil Hellesto, departed MEBA brother (Paul Norman 2 Apr 2002)

Netherlands

• European Container Terminal Strike (JoC 16 May 2001)

New Zealand

• Auckland: All quiet on the waterfront
  (Scott Macleod, New Zealand Herald Online 28 June 2001)
• Auckland dispute goes to Employment court
  (New Zealand Herald Online 27 June 2001)
• Auckland Strike (www.navalweb.com 22 Jun 2001)
• Driver guilty in Lyttelton picket line death (Pauline McNeill 2 Jun 2001)

Philippines

• Manila: KMU dockers wage strike (SMP 23 Apr 2003)

South Africa

• South African dockers may strike over restructuring
• Durban: SATAWU settles, SALSTAWU and UTATU to strike
  (Business Report, Business Day 3 Dec 2001)
• Durban strike: Police go in (Daily News 20 Nov 2001)
• Unions seek to stall ports restructuring (Business Report 15 Nov 2001)
• South African harbours open to private sector
  (Business Day 27 Aug 2001)

• All options open as strike ends
  (Ingrid Salgado, Business Report 30 Nov 2000)
• Impasse on Durban Docks (SEIU 20 Nov 2000)
• MAYDAY for Durban Dockers (SEIU 13 Oct 2000)
• Durban Dockers Tax Picket (David Hemson 7 June 2000)
• Durban: Shots Fired at SEIU Gen. Sec. (David Hemson, 29 May 2000)
• Durban: Organisation Report (David Hemson, 13 May 2000)
• Durban Dock Steward Assassinated (David Hemson, 14 Apr 2000)

Canada

• CMOU Strike and SIU scabbing (Derek Keeping 16 Mar 2002)
• Support CMOU Strikers (Sue Hotte, Mario Elrick 14 Mar 2002)
• CMOU Solidarity Picket Appeal (CMOU 22 Feb 2002)
• Niagara Strike Solidarity Rally (8 Jan 2002)
• Canadian Marine Officers Union call mass picket 3 Jan
  (Mario Elrick 1 Jan 2002)

US East Coast

• Tampa: Ports to tighten security
  (Steve Huettel, St. Petersburg Times 31 May 2001)
• The Sweetheart Union
  (Tom Robbins, Village Voice Week of March 21 - 27, 2001)
• Domino Sugar Strike Ends
  (Steven Greenhouse, NY Times 27 Feb 2001; comment by Joe Crimi)
• Domino Sugar: Bitter Aftertaste
  (Steven Greenhouse, NY Times 5 Mar 2001)
• Domino Sugar (Tate & Lyle) 17 month Brooklyn strike
  (Tom Robbins, Village Voice 25 - 31 Oct 2000)

• We Did Sell Our Soul (Leon J. Harris, 16 June 2000)
• ILA, employers continue talks, decline comment
  (Greg Storey, JOC 14 June 2000)

JeffBoat Teamsters Wildcat

• JeffBoat Workers Defense Committee
  (Workers Solidarity Alliance 28 May 2001)
• Local 89 tries to break strike
  (Harold J. Adams, Louisville Courier-Journal 1 May 2001)
• May 1 JeffBoat Wildcat Appeal
  (John in Seattle, 30 Apr 2001)

Cruise Ships

• IDC and Merchant Navy Union stop cruise sackings
  (IDC 15 July 2003)
• Crewmen Protest Job Losses on Catalina Ship
  (LA Times 3 May 2001)
• For Cruise Ships’ Workers, Much Toil, Little Protection
  (Douglas Frantz, New York Times 24 Dec 99)

US West Coast: Lock-Out, Safety, Contract

left: Oakland rally 27 June 2002
below: San Francisco 24 July
photos: Charles Slay, SF Indymedia
click for more photos

Los Angeles / Long Beach 27 June 2002
photo: Sierra Club Angeles Chapter
more photos

May 9, 2002 Oakland cranes dispute. photos: Steve Zeltzer and ILWU. click images for larger views

• Maritime Worker Monitor #4
• A critique of David Bacon’s “Victory”
• Contract: MOU-Money-Fear
• Contract: Fighting against the odds
• Contract: Replies to Ole
• Contract: Reasons to vote No
• Contract: Why we’re voting - yes or no
• Before workers solidarity can begin
• Contract: What is there to renegotiate?
• Contract: All we need to do is strike the match
• Contract: Reply to Jack Heyman
• Contract: A clerk replies
• Contract: Replies to Tim Milligan
• Contract debate: 10 reasons to vote no...
• Contract: PMA wins big
• Contract and Caucus: Response to Duane Johnson
• Contract: Ripping the heart out of union
• Dockworkers Caucus endorses proposed contract
• Dockworkers open caucus with questions
• Contract: New Technology Déjà Vu
• Contract debate: Response to Duane Johnson
• Contract debate: Cargo Kings at what expense?
• ILWU to vote on contract proposal

  As the ILWU membership consider the details of the 6 year contract agreed by negotiators after the Bush Administration invoked the Taft-Hartley Act, a major labour conference took place on 7 Dec in San Francisco. It was called by ILWU Local 10 and the Portworkers Solidarity Committee.

• San Francisco Labor Conference Report
• Links For Audio and Video of Conference
• www.brightpathvideo.com/Labor_Video.htm
• www.brightpathvideo.com/Taft1.ram 56k video file
• www.brightpathvideo.com/Clip9.ram 56k audio file
• Labor Conference Rally flyer (PDF 23 kb)
  US labor conference against Taft-Hartley & Union-busting

Oakland rally 5 Oct.

photo: Z (Indymedia) click for more

200+ ships tied up in LA 6 Oct.

photo: John Jeter (ILWU)

After seven months, negotiators for the ILWU which represents dockworkers on the US West Coast and the PMA (shipping companies) reached agreement on a new contract on 23 Nov. President Bush, who invoked the Taft-Hartley act to end the employers two-week lockout in early October after the ILWU enforced health & safety legislation, welcomed the deal. The union described it as a “landmark agreement with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) that will benefit workers, the shipping industry, consumers and our economy.” The ILWU membership were not given the details as talks reached a climax during recent weeks, and will now consider the outcome. But Local 34 (Shipping Clerks) are amongst those already asking fundamental questions about the deal.

• ILWU denounces Taft-Hartley government-employer collusion (9 Oct.)
  
• Negotiating Committee Update (ILWU 30 Sep 2002)
• ILWU Pres. Spinosa: We want to go back to work (ILWU 30 Sep 2002)
• PMA rejects tech agreement, closes West Coast ports (ILWU 27 Sep 2002)
• Technology issue is over, ILWU turns to rest of contract (ILWU 26 Sep 2002)
• Bargaining Update (ILWU 26 Sep 2002)
• Don’t let irresponsible SSA undermine bargaining (ILWU 17 Sep 2002)
• Negotiations update 9/3/02 (ILWU 3 Sep.)
• PMA reneges on deals, Calls Bush administration (ILWU 2 Sept.)
• Negotiating Committee empowered to seek Strike Authorization (ILWU Update 25 July)
• Caucus rejects PMA proposals (ILWU 25 July)
• Negotiating Committee recommends “No” vote (ILWU Update 22 July)
• ILWU offers technology solution (ILWU Press Release 16 July)
• Contract negotiations update 7/15/02 (ILWU 15 July 2002)
• Status of Safety Committee Update (ILWU 15 July 2002)
• ILWU Position on Maintenance of Benefits (ILWU 15 July 2002)
• Analysis of the Jobs, Wages, and Revenues (ILWU 2 July 2002)