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For
immediate release Wednesday, October 02, 2002
US
employers "face international union response" in docks dispute
The International Transport Workers' Federation has reacted strongly
to the news that US employers in the ongoing West Cost ports dispute
brought armed guards to a negotiating meeting yesterday.
"The decision by the employers to use armed guards during peace
negotiations has seriously escalated the West Coast docks dispute.
Not only has it forced the ILWU to walk out of the talks organised yesterday
by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, it will also
provoke an immediate and wide ranging international response",
said ITF General Secretary David Cockroft.
ILWU delegates are touring Europe to secure union support and an
international union delegation is meeting Japanese shipowners in
Tokyo, the ITF said.
Cockroft stated that Paddy Crumlin, General Secretary of the Australian
maritime union and Vice Chair of the ITF Dockers' Section was
working closely with the Japanese dockers' and seafarers' unions to
coordinate support action in Japan.
"The Australians have never forgotten the support they got from
ILWU members during the 1998 Patricks' dispute and a major
group of union activists from Australia and New Zealand is
currently in California helping plan solidarity. This
demonstrates clearly our determination to Globalise
Solidarity", he explained.
"The action by the PMA, whether it was a deliberate provocation
or even a misunderstanding, has guaranteed to prolong a dispute
which was started by the employers, and which is already
causing major disruption to world trade. One thing is
certain, this will only reinforce the determination of all
maritime unions around the globe to do everything necessary to
back the ILWU" he added.
ITF affiliates worldwide are making it clear to all the companies
represented on the PMA Board that this dispute has now become a
major priority for every ITF affiliate and that they expect
serious negotiations to restart immediately and to lead to a
new contract acceptable to the ILWU.
Notes to Editors:
The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) represents not only US terminal
operators, such as Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) and Marine
Terminals, but also big global shipping lines like Maersk, CSX Lines,
APL, (owned by NOL Singapore),Japanese shipping lines NYK Line and
Mitsui OSK Line and the Korean Hanjin Shipping Company.
These shipping lines do business worldwide and rely on having a good
relationship with maritime unions in many different countries.
Their representatives sit on the Board of PMA and can be held
responsible for this serious incident which threatens a major
part of world trade.
Ends
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