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.