MERSEYSIDE dockworkers have now been locked out for over five months in their struggle against casualisation.
In contrast to the official leadership of the labour movement they have shown that we can resist the bosses The dispute has been in defiance of the Tories anti-union laws, the only way they could have fought. They have brought out the whole of the docks in support.
They have held out against the attempts of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company (MDHC) to break the strike by bringing in scabs to work those ships still using the port, and all attempts by the MDHC and TWU leadership to buy them off.
They have built international solidarity, with action in support in ten countries, including a one day strike by Greek dockers in their support.
The recent international solidarity conference was attended by 60 dockworkers from 17 countries. It discussed further support for the Liverpool workers and how to build links between dockworkers who are facing the same problems of privatisation and casualisation around the world.
Public criticism by the Chamber of Commerce and the Port Users' Association shows how they see such international solidarity as a threat.
Despite the refusal of the TGWU to give them official support for fear of being prosecuted under the anti-union laws, the dockworkers and the "Women of the Waterfront" support group have toured the labour movement winning solidarity that puts the official movement to shame.
Such has been the confidence from these efforts that the vote to reject the Pete Skinley of the FBU addresses dockers' rally in Liverpool, January 1996. bosses' pay-off (backed by TGWU officialdom) was rejected overwhelmingly-the dockworkers are adamant they want all jobs back, not some sop.
The weakness so far has been the lack of supportive action from other British ports, despite the efforts of support groups in many areas.
Work at many British ports has already been casualised, with others seeing it coming. To spread the fightback
Socialist Outlook 97 • February 17, 1996.