GTI Mumbai Solidarity News

The ITF is calling on all affiliates to stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with dockers from all over the world who will meet in Berlin this week.

Urge multinational shipping giant, Maersk to intervene to settle Indian port drivers’ agreement. SEND A MESSAGE OF PROTEST TO Maersk-owned APM Terminals

Last December the union (TDWU) negotiated an interim agreement with All Cargo, one of four GTI contractors in Mumbai port; since then negotiations have been taking place towards a full collective agreement.

Unfortunately these negotiations remain fruitless as All Cargo managers assert the company doesn't have the funds to pay an extra US$45 per month per contract driver.

It’s in Maersk/GTI's power to resolve this situation. It's time Maersk, as a socially responsible company, complies with local legislation on payment of wages as notified for dock work, and ensures that all contract workers employed by GTI are covered by a full collective agreement. Please urge Maersk to intervene immediately to ensure the rights of the workers at GTI in Mumbai are respected.

After appeals from the Senior Police Inspector the TDWU have decided against the Dharna for now. They would prefer to give the contractors time to meet their obligations and to wait for the outcome of planned meetings but they say any pressure from around the world is still very much needed to make sure they keep their previous promises.

Frank Leys, Dockers Section Secretary, said: “This is a step forward but please, everyone, crank up the pressure on these companies! A show of solidarity from brothers and sisters around the world will prove to these companies that the TDWU is not alone, that the world is watching. An appeal to, or a word in the right ear of, your local APM managers could make all the difference to the outcome for TDWU. Let’s show them what we can do together.”

As the JNPT were reacting, simultaneously, the Senior Inspector of Police convened an official meeting of Gateway Terminals India Pvt.Ltd., their Transport Contractors and Sub-contractors and the Union. About 200 workers, who had volunteered to take part in the Dharna, were also present at the Police Station.

The Senior Police Inspector, after hearing the contentions of the parties, advised M/s. Thakur Infraprojects Pvt.Ltd., and M/s. Casby Logistics Pvt.Ltd. that they should firmly ensure compliance to Minimum Wages and any fall out or labour disturbance due to non-compliance will be taken very seriously.

The Senior Police Inspector explained in detail the threat faced by the JNPT and the heightened Security measures and appealed to the Union to defer the Dharna to see if the contractors would agree to the terms discussed.

200 TDWU members intended to stage a Dharna (the practice of exacting justice or compliance with a just demand by sitting and fasting at the doorstep of an offender). The union informed the relevant authorities of the intention which caused a strong reaction and the promise of action.

The Union had sent Notices to the Chairman Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), CEO - Gateway Terminals India Pvt. Ltd., the Commandant General - CISF, the Senior Inspector of Police, Nhava Sheva Police Station seeking permission. Simultaneously, all the Transport Contractors viz. M/s. Thakur Infraprojects Pvt.Ltd., M/s. Casby Logistics Pvt. Ltd., and M/s. Allcargo Global Logistics Ltd., were also informed.

The JNPT administration have assured the union they will sort out the issues raised by them by convening a joint meeting of Gateway Terminals and their Transport Contractors to seek enforcement of the Minimum Wages Act applicable to transport workers and also adherence to the salient clauses of the BOT Agreement in respect of service conditions, safety and welfare of the workers.

At around midnight on the 20th January 2000, 100 members of the International Longshoremen's Association were engaged in a peaceful protest outside the port of Charleston in South Carolina. They were protesting against attempts by shipping company Nordana to use non-union labour in the port, which would inevitably have led to the erosion of their salaries and their benefits. Matters descended into violence rapidly and the 100 ILA men and women were mobbed by some 600 police officers. It ended with the arrest of nine longshoremen and 30 protesters injured, including the President of ILA Local 1422, Kenneth Riley, who was clubbed across the head. Five of those arrested were dubbed the Charleston 5 and were charged with "conspiracy to riot", a felony charge under the US legal system. After several legal battles, the Charleston 5 eventually pleaded "no contest" to some minor charges. The port of Charleston remains largely unionised, with ILA Local 1422 and Kenneth Riley standing strong.

In 2000, decent working men and women in Charleston stood up peacefully for their rights. These 100 peaceful men and women were swamped by 600 Police officers. They were supported by the workers of the world and emerged victorious.

In 2010, decent members of the Transport and Dock Workers Union in Mumbai trying to earn a reasonable living on the wharf are met with organised violence. They call for the support of the workers of the world.

We cannot let them down.

Robert McEllrath, President of one of the ITF's US affiliates, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), displays the "Bloody T Shirt" symbolising his condemnation of the violence used against members of the TDWU

At the Arab world Dockers meeting, held on the 22-24 February in Beirut Lebanon, a resolution condemning the failure to progress collective agreements and violence against workers was passed.

The delegates called for Maersk and GTI do act to resolve the threat of violence since the first attack took place in 2007, they are seen here displaying the bloody t-shirts symbolising the violence against Mumbai workers.

The TDWU has received over a hundred solidarity letters protesting the violence and requesting respect of union rights for the workers employed by GTI in Mumbai.

The list of countries pledging their support is endless and includes: Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Indonesia, Japan, Jordon, Latvia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay and USA.

All supporters are calling for GTI to end contracts with those that don’t respect workers rights, including their right to collective bargaining and minimum wage levels.

Frank Leys, the ITF’s Dockers Section Secretary said “We are overwhelmed by the support we have received but more needs to be done to make sure the outcome we are striving for is achieved. Please continue to send your letters of Solidarity and make sure the TDWU know they are not alone in their struggle. Please also remember to contact your local APM management to express your concern”

At a Civil Aviation training seminar being held in Mumbai, employees of Jet airways and other low-cost Indian airlines, alongside members of DHL, were told, by ITF organisers, of the violence committed against members of the TDWU. Employees of Jet airways were successful in winning union recognition by Jet in 2009.

 
They are seen here posing with the Bloody T Shirt to  express their contempt for employers to have to resort to such means.

Members of the ITF's influential Offshore Task Force, representing trade unions from across the world in the industry, met in Mumbai between 22-24th February 2010. There, they pledged their support for all lawful action undertaken by the campaign to persuade Maersk-subsidiary GTI Mumbai to sever all relations with Thakur Infra Projects and Casby Logistics. Like Thakur, Casby has yet to sign a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Transport and Dock Workers Union of India (TDWU).

 
The members of the Offshore Task Force are seen here wearing their bloody T-Shirts, symbolising the violence committed against members of the TDWU in Mumbai by employees of Thakur.

Please click on the link below to see the resolution.

Offshore Task Force - GTi Resolution[2].pdf  (40 KB)

Reports have arrived from India regarding two gate meetings that took place on Monday (15 Feb) in Mumbai. The meetings were conducted at the time of the shift changes, one for the incoming shift and the other for the outgoing shift. Both meetings had a great turnout of around 150 participants each. 
After the meetings, a delegation from the union met the Secretary of the Port Trust. They presented a letter on the issue of non-compliance of applicable labour laws by the BOT (Build Operate and Transfer) operators. In this case, Dubai Ports World and Gateway Terminals India, both operate terminals in Navi Mumbai. It was pointed out that the BOT operators are not ensuring the compliance of ports and docks minimum wages or other notifications issued by the Port Trust, periodically. The Secretary assured the union delegation that he would convene a meeting of all the concerned parties to address this issue. 

See also ITF news online report

Press release "Here’s the evidence, now Maersk must act" published now

The ITF has received a report from Gayatri Singh of the India Centre for Human Rights and Law into what happened to GTI workers emplyed by contractors SC Thakur.

To get a full copy of the report, click here

Welcome to the GTI Mumbai solidarity blog. Here we will post news and commentary from the campaign for trade union rights and an end to violence in GTI Mumbai.

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