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