3-7 September, Elspeet, Netherlands

ITF Summer School 2007 was hosted by the ITF affiliate FNV Bondgenoten and supported by FES. It was held at the Mennorode conference centre in Elspeet, the Netherlands.

The programme focussed on the ITF's Organising Globally work programme, including how to strengthen  union organisation in the context of outsourcing, subcontracting and casualisation. Details of the programme's activities and participants views are outlined below.

Changing direction: Fulfilling the organising agenda

From 3- 7 September 2007, 40 delegates participated in an intensive Summer School programme consisting of presentations, group work, case studies and role-plays. Delegates from twenty-four countries were able to concentrate their minds on organising and other union challenges at the Mennorode conference centre in the forest of Elspeet, Netherlands.

Participants' views on the programme “As we are dealing with the organising issue in my union the summer school is exactly what we needed.” Kaia Vask, Estonian Seamen's Independent Union “I got knowledge on how to organise in order to make the union stronger . How to map our strength and how to build unity among unions in the same sector in order to face collective issues.” Irwan Setyabuchi, Serikat Pekerja Terminal Petikemas Koja, Indonesia “I knew a little about organising, this week has helped me focus more and work out strategies.” Mrs Hilary Hosking, Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA), Great Britain “My union’s major strength lies within the port and both the visit to Rotterdam port and the presentation on logistics can prove helpful  for any possible restructuring and recruitment.” Dionne Howard, Barbados Workers' Union.

This year’s programme was modified to reflect the ITF’s new work programme “Organising Globally”.  The context in which transport unions find themselves was discussed and analysed, including how transport is becoming more integrated to meet the demands of global trade, the technological developments that have facilitated some of these changes, the evolving profile of a transport worker and the new employment relationships which have emerged.  This shift in focus did not go unnoticed by some participants: “ I expected more deep information about the restructuring process as a consequence of globalisation but I am very happy with what I learnt” Elka Komitova, Federation of Transport Trade Unions in Bulgaria (FTTB).

The programme explored opportunities for organising different categories of workers, and the visit to Rotterdam Port put the discussions into perspective. Participants were able to see a transport hub in action which is highly mechanised and has an intensive work schedule.

The key issue that emerged from the port visit was that transport unions need to constantly assess where new strategic areas of work are emerging. Traditionally the dockers were the most powerful group of workers within the port, but mechanisation has meant there are few dockers left in the traditional sense. The majority of workers now work in the office managing the computerised systems or are in jobs which have been outsourced.

The sessions on mapping and developing strategic organising campaigns helped delegates acquire practical tools to use back in their unions and workplaces. Participants were able to develop actual organising plans and were exposed to the theoretical and practical aspects of mapping the workplace using real examples. On the last day of the summer school, participants were divided into regional groups which looked at the existing capacities of unions to do effective organising. Capacity building needs were identified, and will be actively followed up by the ITF Education Department together with the participants themselves.

The Summer School and my union

Back in the Spring 2007, Mark Dickinson Assistant General Secretary of Nautilus UK had offered me the opportunity to attend the school to obtain knowledge and experience of the ITF, its role and its work around the world.

The summer school material mirrored the activities that we are presently pursuing as a union. Having attended the school, it far exceeded my expectations with the superb unity of the diverse delegates from around the world, sharing their knowledge and experiences in all sectors of transport.

I found the administration to be of the highest level as where all the lecturers, and staff who just managed to obtain the correct mood of the school and helped it to proceed in the manner it did. How many students would still be in the classroom (voluntarily) at 10pm at night enjoying each other’s company?

The one word for me was “relevance”; I found the material on organising, campaigning and recruiting to be extremely beneficial as was the methods of mapping locally, regionally and globally. The day visit to Rotterdam port was excellent and again allowed me to learn immense amounts about my own industry internationally.

I also welcomed the opportunity to listen to David Cockroft, the ITF general secretary on the move to recruit into none-traditional areas of transport. That again was relevant as Nautilus UK looks at a number of similar projects with Ratings, Non- domiciled seafarers, hotel onboard services, shore-side employees and a whole raft of other possibilities linked to seafaring. I enjoyed the opportunities that arose on role play and reporting back and especially when I was able to discuss the progression made towards a cross border union which as I explained to David Cockroft, would in my view set the template for the future for others to follow the same process.

Finally, I will definitely utilise in my new role (recruitment and organising) all of the material, networks and structures and I appreciate the opportunity that my Union and the ITF gave me to attend. Garry Elliott, Nautilus, UK

Rotterdam Port – A logistics hub in action

A visit to the port of Rotterdam was included as a field trip in the ITF Summer School this year. It was intended to be a learning activity with the participants getting a first hand experience of observing a logistics and transport hub in operation with varied activities like handling, distribution and transport of cargo. This experience was intended to reinforce discussions during earlier sessions in the Summer School on subjects like how global trade has been revolutionised by the phenomenal growth of logistics networks operating global supply chains and how transport is critical to the smooth working of these supply chains.

Participants visited 3 port terminals that varied in their level of mechanisation.  The Hutchison Port Holdings ECT delta terminal, is currently the most mechanised with only two or three workers on the ground operating machinery. The majority of the work was carried out by programmed machinery.  The APM Maersk terminal although had great machinery these were operated by workers on the ground.  Lastly the yet to be operational hi-tech Euro Max terminal, envisages even less dock workers as the truckers will load and unload cargo from their trucks and also backroom workers will have more screens to operate.

Participants observed the highly mechanised cargo handling from ships with hardly 2-3 workers per crane and the containers then being transported by the fully automated guided vehicles (AGVs), the straddle carriers loading or unloading containers from the AGVs and the stacking cranes (manned/automated) piling up containers, and later loading them onto trucks for onward movement of cargo. What this whole operation highlighted was the huge amounts of investments needed for modern technology, the need for only few highly skilled jobs to do the key operations while lashing/unlashing of containers, maintenance, and security jobs are either outsourced or done by casual labour.

Participants observed how the port complex houses innumerable warehouses (e.g DHL, Vopak), distribution centres (e.g Reebok, Nippon Express), oil refinery (e.g Shell) all intended to store, treat or process cargo before it moves forward along the supply chain.

Participants also observed how the logistics system at the port integrates a multi modal transport system with rail lines, a channel for inland navigation through barges and ferries, & truck terminals, all ready to carry cargo to/from various destinations so that the supply chain works unhindered taking the most appropriate mode to move cargo in time along the supply chain.