SUPPORT LIVERPOOL DOCKERS END CASUAL LABOUR International solidarity brings successes International Workers Longshoremen of America successful in persuading the Atlantid Container Company Ltd to pull out of the port of Liverpool. They have moved to the Thames Port in Kent albeit only temporarily, as they have said they would return to Livernool solved within the next 2 months. The Canadian CAM Line Shipping Company if the dispute is not resolved.
This is putting massive pressure or the employers with the value of Mersey Dock and Harbour Company shares dropping by 25 percent The Port Users of Liverpool have called a meeting to discuss how to deal with these problems National Dockers Support Committee Following a successful demonstration in support of the dockers in Liverpool on 29 June, a meeting was held to discuss the setting up of the National Dockers Support Committee (NDSC).
It was agreed:
* That the first meeting of the NDSC will be held on July 20th * That all organisations should send 2 This was SWP wanted to elect the delegates there and then from a meeting they had packed! This was rejected by the dockers as it I would exclude many organisations.
* To call a major lobby of the TUC Conference in September to demand that the TUC:
- Organise a national levy of all TUs o support the docker • Oppose the anti-trade union laws - Allow the dockers to address the TUC conference The dispute could last several months speakers to your meetings and organise regular workplace collections.
Socialist Elkie Dee STRIKERS AT Hillingdon Hospital in north-west London have been campaigning for reinstaement with reasonable pay and conditions for over nine months. Unison, their trade union nas called a demonstration for Saturday 13 July. They were sacked last year by Pall Mall, the private company which won the tendered contract for catering, cleaning, portering and sterile supplies. Pall Mall was quick to SUPPORT THE HILLINGDON STRIKERS Assombia 11 am Collara Eroon Racreation Eround Colam Green Road Opposito I Magdon Hospital, Ubdariago Nazrast tube: Ubbridge March to Hi Sagion Civic Cantro announce a "rationalisation" package of changes to pay and conditions for its 200 new employees, including an overall cut of around f1 an hour. 56 workers who refused to accept were sacked - including some who had worked at the hospital for over 25 years.
This crucial dispute is part of a much wider struggle privatisation as hospitals, councils, the civil service and colleges put services out to tender. The conditions at Pall Mall will be replicated elsewhere if privatisations go ahead.
In December 1995, Pall Mall was known to hold 21 public sector contracts, 17 in the NHS, and to be tendering for contracts with a number of other hospitals and Haringey Council.
Pall Mall and its parent company, the Davis Service Group, are known for a short term view on maximising profits at the workers' expense. Management are hostile to trade unions and have actively campaigned against TUPE, which requires successful contractors to maintain the conditions of an existing workforce inherited from their previous public cecior emniover inic has ect previous disputes with health workers in East Kilbride, Basildon and Southampton.
Particularly under threat are those services not generally regarded as part of the central function of an organisation, such as catering and cleaning, security and clerical work. These jobs are very often low-paid and already part-time or casualised. Pall Mall workers earn an average of only just over £5,000 a year - compared to the average £53,000 paid to each of the six directors.
The courageous battle at Pall Mall represents a new mood amongst layers of workers whose conditions are under brutal assault. These struggle will be as vital for the future as those in traditionally stronger sectors.
Women and black and Asian workers make up a high proportion of those employed in such jobs: they are particularly privatisation of the public sector and the deterioration in working conditions and employment rights. They are also vulnerable to sexual harassment. In 1992 Pall Mall was forced to pay a female manager £10,000 compensation when she was sacked after spurning the advances of her regional manager. So much for Equal Opportunities!
Send donations to: Unison Greater London Industrial Action Fund, Civic House, 8 Aberdeen Terrace, Blackheath London SE3 0QY