to keep the dispute alive.
After building for a major mass picket in Liverpool they will be taking the fight to the TUC with a lobby on September 9.
Ten months after having been locked out the Liverpool dockers remain steadfast. They have built an impressive base of support in Liverpool and among dockers world-wide. Their effective action has seen Mersey Docks' share price drop 28 per cent, wiping millions of pounds off its value. Such has been the level of international solidarity that one major port user, ACL, has now pulled out of Liverpool. The dockers are now focusing on a Canadian company, CAST. Signalling the start of this campaign Liverpool dockers occupied dock-side gantries in Montreal stopping the loading of a CAST vessel.
But despite haying addressed over 4,000 meetings the weak point in the campaign remains the patchy support of the British labour movement. A National Solidarity Committee has now been set up to co-ordinate activity across the country and try to build effective action in Britain.
The 70 delegates representing Support Groups from many areas met last weekend to plan a way ahead. They heard of successes: major donations by unions such as the CWU and RMT, unprece. dented support for 'unofficial ac. tion by the Scottish TUC. There IT WAS amazing stuff: both Lou Adams and Jimmy Knapp, the general secretaries of ASLEF and the RMT, sharing a platform at pre-strike rallies.
The mass meetings enthusiastically applauded calls for unity in the fight with London Underground Limited (LUL) management. They promised the two unions would strike together and "go Ol T&G leaders must match the committment of Liverpool dockers had also been problems. The CPSA national executive refused to honour donations agreed by their Annual Conference. The T&G dragged its feet in meeting commitments support the dock. ers. Even against a media black. out it was clear that dockers have been able to reach out to work. ems. Sunport has been overwhelm. ing. Despite all sort of warm words, action by union leader. ships has been slow to appear.
In many areas everybody was working together. But in some places sectarianism by some orAt 4.30am there were nine workers on our picket line looking up and down the road for any scabs to come into sight. A coule of hours later oniv two had turned up and one went home again.
No trains running. A few hours more and we are bored enough to chat to the cops sent to watch us. But nothing can lower our spirits.
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ganisations was hampering progres. The dockers themselves urged everyone to work through representative local support groups and not "do their own thing".
Doreen McNally from Women of the Waterfront explained the key problem. £35,000 is needed every week if the dockers and their families are to survive and if they are to build an effective campaign of action. Despite some major donations this level of support is proving difficult to sustain.
Photo: Chris Jones In response, the meeting adopted a three point plan of action: to launch the national levy campaign; to organise national support for a major mass picket in Liverpool; and to lobby the TUC on September 9.
While collections at meetings and donations from organisations' funds are welcome what is needed is regular commitments. Already some workplaces, such as AC Delco in Kirkby and Rolls Royce in Coventry have commit. ted themselves to weekly levies. The need now is for this to spond.
Mass pickets have been an important feature of the dispute, gaining a good response from across the country. The plan is now to organise a well-publicised day of action. The International Transport Federation has promised a world-wide day or protest and the dockers are to discuss set. ting a date tied in with this.
A lobby of the TUC on September 9, in support of a clear policy on the minimum wage, is already being planned by UNISON. It Is hoped to maximise support by building a dockers' lobby at the same time. The dockers are de. manding to be allowed to address the TUC. Whether or not they succeed, a major lobby can help to break down the wall of silence that has kept many ignorant of the dockers' campaign.
The meeting was a major step forward in setting clear realisable targets, moving away from abstract demands tor general strikes. It is vital that broad-based Support Groups are built in every locality. Speakers from the dispute are always willing to come and address meetings and good publicity material is available. The dockers are providing the ammunition we need. The ball is now in our court. • Contact Liverpool Docks Shop Stewards Committee c/o 19 Scorton Street Liverpool L6
4AS or 'phone 0151 207 3388. By an LUL train operator