19 October 2007

Yesterday the final group of drivers employed by Thakur a contractor for Maersk's GTI terminal in Mumbai were reinstated in their jobs.  They included four drivers who last April were abducted and beaten for joining a trade union. This means that all 14 drivers for the two contract companies Thakur and Relogistics, who were dismissed after they went on strike in protest against the beatings have regained their jobs after a seven month campaign by the Transport and Dock Workers Union (TDWU) assisted by the ITF Maersk Union Network. At one point yesterday the local Maersk subsidiary took out an injunction against the TDWU to try to prevent protests outside the GTI Terminal planned for Thursday this week. The courts, however, ruled in favour of the union's right to hold a peaceful protest. The union decided to hold back on the protests after moves were made to fully reinstate the Thakur drivers in which GTI played a positive part. All the drivers with Relogistsics had been gradually reinstated some weeks earlier. With all workers back in their jobs it has shown that even contract workers are able to fight for their basic union rights when they have a committed union.

This resolution of the dispute means that no international campaign action is now required. The ITF will be discussing with the union any support it may need in the wake of the dispute.