AS LIVERPOOL dockers commemorate one year on strike, there are moves in their union, the TGWU, to drop any support.
After refusing to cross picket lines in support of those sacked for objecting to being told to work overtime without notice, all the dockworkers were sacked.
Since then, they have put up a magnificent struggle, resisting several attempts by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company to buy them out and building impressive international solidarity. Dockers around the world recognise the need to fight against casualisation, which threatens them all. Livernool-based shins have been blacked and delayed and MHDC's profits have been hit.
The dockers have received less support in Britain. The TGWU, despite the "left" majority on its executive, would not give official support because the Assemble 1.00 pm Myrtle Parade, March to Pier Head Mass picket Monday 30 September 10.00 am Seaforth Dock NO TO CASUALISATION dockers' action is "illegal", ie outside the Tories' anti-union laws. Ironically, much of the publicity drive by dockers abroad would have been illegal here.
Instead the TGWU has given token support, with Bill Morris occasionally speaking at rallies, and supposedly collecting money for the dockers - very little of which has been seen.
Morris's main activity has been trying to sell the dockers out. He has brokered deals with the MDHC behind the dockers' backs and then tried to get them to accept.
The dockers have stood firm and rejected deals through which they would lose their jobs.
Now, there are threats that the National Executive meeting on September 16-20 will give the dockers an ultimatum: accept a deal they have already rejected, or lose all TWU Some on the executive have pledged to oppose this, if necessary reshaping the left in terms of who is and who is not prepared to support the dockers.
Loss of TGWU support would mean exclusion from the TGWU's Liverpool office, and possibly the TGWU informing other unions and dockers unions internationally that they have withdrawn support, making it harder to win solidarity action.
This scandalous threat by the TGWU leadership is made easier because the dockers have never really challenged the TGWU's lack of support. The dockers' leaders have argued that they are stronger without official This does not prevent Morris trying to sell them out. Last week, he threatened the TGWU delegation at the TUC with disciplinary action if any of them moved suspension of standing orders to allow the dockers to address congress. This would have been more difficult for him if the dispute were official.
When they have had access, dockers have won support. Union conferences they were allowed to address have given magnificent amounts and many workplaces have made regular donations.
Whether or not the TGWU cuts support, solidarity with the dockers must be extended. The demonstration on September 28 should be a massive celebration of one year's struggle, and socialists and trade unionists around the country must step up support. If the TGWU drops support, there must be a deafening roar of protest from union branches, particularly TGWU ones, demanding not only that support is maintained, but that it is made official.
Greg Tucker of the RMT witnesses the clash of the modernisers unable to control the rank and file after the general election.
The leadership's plan was simple. With controversv kent to a minimum the time was to be filled with interlaunched by Labour in different parts of Blackpool.
Blair's spin doctors have a simple technique: advance a wild proposal off the record. denv it vigorouslv the next day, then implement it the next week.
David Blunkett was due to speak at a fringe meeting and had asked for little publicity. Then, catching the meeting organisers by surprise in the few days before, his office hyped up the meeting Socialist Outlook /08 • September 2/ 1996.
the CWU and RMT leaders to head off fights this summer as a portent for the future. They made a pre-emptive strike of their own. Trade union leaders were furious, and their anger spilled out into the debate over the last two days of the con-