DOCKERS in Liverpool have been holding monthly demonstrations since they were locked out by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.
The latest march drew 1,300 people and the mood was even more militant than usual.
The TGWU bureaucracy has been trying to get the dockers to accept a bosses, to selectively re-employ a nandful of cockers and ouy ort the rest. Not everyone would get this "compensation".
A mass meeting of 400 voted unanimously to reject this "offer". This is despite union bosses Jack Adams and Bill Morris calling for acceptance.
Unfortunately the TGWU bureaucracy is continuing to push for a sellout settlement. They have now balloted striking members, dividing them up into three separate groups.
And this is supposed to be an unofficial dispute!
Thankfully the dockers resolve is rock solid. Results have yet to come in from the sacked Torside dockers and Nelson Freight. However, the ing to cross the Torside picket line have voted by 271 to 50 to continue their action.
The TGWU leaders have been a disgrace. After an initial donation the ther money In contrast Italian dockworkers nave nicoleo ine money ront one hours overtime per month, amounting to 140,000. Maybe the Liverpool dockers should join an Italian trade The action of the Italian dock Bayo Omoyiola, a Nigerian threatened with deportation, oddresses Liverpool dockers rally Solidarity from USA wos shown by International Longshoremen's & Warehousemen's union member jock Harman on January 13. workers reflects a growing solidarity. Profits have been hit by an impressive international boycott.
On February 17 an International Conference of Dockworkers will be held in Liverpool drawing in workers from the USA. Canada, Sweden. France and Italy.
A national conference is also planned. This has the support of the dockers and of the Merseyside County Association of Trades Union Councils.
The latest protest demonstration also reflected the solidarity that workers feel with the struggle of the Liverpool dockers. Many different trade unionists were in attendance. Women from the Hillingdon hospital dispute spoke at the rally. also on strike against the Employment Service over performance reLated pay—have shown their solidarity by refusing to advertise the jobs of the sacked dockers. The company has had to recruit scabs from as far away as Medway to keep the port